Podcasts about Varian Johnson

From literary powerhouse and Coretta Scott King Honor- and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritance Varian Johnson and New York Times bestselling illustrator Reggie Brown. Elijah can't wait to take his brand-new kite for its first flight! But with a new baby in the family, Daddy has to work this weekend. Elijah finds a clever way to help out and pitch in with his family while also reminding his dad how to still have a little fun. Beloved children's book author, Varian Johnson's debut picture book highlights the fun journey of a young child building his confidence as he steps up into the big kid role, specifically as the little big man of the house. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

In this episode of the Book Fair Podcast, host Anthony interviews Varian Johnson, author of 'Little Big Man.' They discuss the themes of family dynamics, the challenges of writing for children, and the importance of empathy in storytelling. Johnson shares insights into his writing process, the business side of publishing, and how he crafts relatable characters that resonate with young readers. The conversation highlights the significance of diverse voices in literature and the universal truths that can emerge from specific family experiences.New Releases:Miss Liberty by Erin Moonyeen HaleyEl Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and illustrated by Joe CepedaThe Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace LinReturn to Sender by Vera BrosgolWeird Sad and Silent- by Alison McGheeChapters00:00 Introduction to Varian Johnson and Little Big Man01:12 Exploring Elijah's Character and Family Dynamics04:22 Challenges of Writing for Young Audiences10:56 Crafting Empathy and Universal Themes16:06 Elijah's Perspective on Family Struggles23:09 New Releases31:43 Texas Passes School Vouchers33:25 South Carolina Bans 10 Books Statewide36:44 Judge Delivers Blow to Trump & DOGE in IMLS Lawsuit

In this episode of the Book Fair Podcast, host Anthony interviews Varian Johnson, author of 'Little Big Man.' They discuss the themes of family dynamics, the challenges of writing for children, and the importance of empathy in storytelling. Johnson shares insights into his writing process, the business side of publishing, and how he crafts relatable characters that resonate with young readers. The conversation highlights the significance of diverse voices in literature and the universal truths that can emerge from specific family experiences.New Releases:Miss Liberty by Erin Moonyeen HaleyEl Niño by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and illustrated by Joe CepedaThe Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace LinReturn to Sender by Vera BrosgolWeird Sad and Silent- by Alison McGheeChapters00:00 Introduction to Varian Johnson and Little Big Man01:12 Exploring Elijah's Character and Family Dynamics04:22 Challenges of Writing for Young Audiences10:56 Crafting Empathy and Universal Themes16:06 Elijah's Perspective on Family Struggles23:09 New Releases31:43 Texas Passes School Vouchers33:25 South Carolina Bans 10 Books Statewide36:44 Judge Delivers Blow to Trump & DOGE in IMLS Lawsuit

From literary powerhouse and Coretta Scott King Honor- and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritance Varian Johnson and New York Times bestselling illustrator Reggie Brown. Elijah can't wait to take his brand-new kite for its first flight! But with a new baby in the family, Daddy has to work this weekend. Elijah finds a clever way to help out and pitch in with his family while also reminding his dad how to still have a little fun. Beloved children's book author, Varian Johnson's debut picture book highlights the fun journey of a young child building his confidence as he steps up into the big kid role, specifically as the little big man of the house. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

We're happy to report that our most popular episode in 2023 is no mystery...actually, it IS a mystery: Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance. And by the way, if your school is in LA County, we'll come out and tape a Book Club for Kids episode in your classroom! Just have your teacher, parent, or librarian contact us at the website and click on the "Want to be on the show?" button.

What makes a good mystery? We talk to writer Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance. Kitty Felde, who writes her own mystery series THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES is host.

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Brooks Books. Today I'll be reviewing Triple Threat by Mike Lupica. This was an amazing sports book with a protagonist that I loved. The featured author of the episode is non-other than Varian Johnson!You can email me at brooksbooks13@gmail.com for book recommendations or if you want a shout-out! Also, check out my Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brooksbookspodcast!

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian JohnsonAnt used to love his nickname, now, not so much.  He used to love playing Spades for fun, but now, not so much. Mostly because he wants to make his father proud. He wants to be able to win the big local Spades tournament coming up, but the year before, he and his best friend and partner, Jamal, pretty much flopped. Now Ant has to figure out how to win while at the same time trying to figure out what exactly is going on with his dad.Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Varian Johnson!Varian was born in 1977, and grew up in the thriving metropolis of Florence, SC (population 30,248—2000 Census). He has a twin brother and a younger sister, and his parents, unlike many of his characters, were actually pretty good in the parenting department.Varian excelled in many subjects while growing up, specifically math and science. He was the typical high school “geek”—he played the baritone in marching band, was a member of the Wilson High School Academic Challenge Team, and he counted his Hewlett-Packard 48G calculator as one of his most prized possessions. However, Varian also enjoyed English—especially creative writing.After writing novels for older readers, Varian began writing middle grade novels. His caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, is his first work for younger readers. It was recently named a Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book of 2014. Kirkus praised the novel in a starred review, stating, “The elaborate bait and switch of this fast-paced, funny caper novel will surprise its readers as much as the victims. They'll want to reread immediately so they can admire the setup.”Varian's puzzle mystery, The Parker Inheritance, has been called The Westing Game meets The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963. The Parker Inheritance, released in 2018, reviewed starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Horn Book, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and was named a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book among other accolades.Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, is Varian's debut graphic novel. It received five starred reviews, and was named an NPR best book, and a Washing Post Best Children's Book, and a Texas Library Association Little Maverick Reading List Selection among other accolades.Varian loves traveling around the world (seriously, the world!) talking about writing and books. Please contact him if you're interesting in having him speak at your school or event.https://varianjohnson.com/Follow Varian Johnson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrvarianjohnson/Buy Playing the Cards You're Dealt here:https://bookshop.org/p/books/playing-the-cards-you-re-dealt-varian-johnson/17371581?ean=9781338348538SCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show

On Today's Show"I think it's really important that readers see the people behind the book: the authors, the illustrators, the librarians, the teachers, the folks in publicity and marketing. Obviously, a young reader won't see all of that, it's just important to know that the people behind the book are people of color or look like you. That's just taking diversity and inclusion and equity to another level." - Varian Johnson As a kid, Varian Johnson always felt connected to authors. Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume were among his early favorites. He would even write letters to Blume. But those connections were unmatched compared to Walter Dean Myers. In reading Walter Dean Myers, Varian Johnson saw himself reflected in both the characters on the pages and in the author himself.  That relationship between the reader and author is something Varian values a great deal. Now, as an adult and author, Varian takes his role in that relationship seriously. He knows the responsibility it entails in the messages he shares and how he inspires his own readers. He joins to talk about that relationship and what it means for young readers to see themselves beyond the pages. ContentsChapter 1 - Varian as a Young Reader (2:36)Chapter 2 - If You Come Softly (8:57)Chapter 3 - Connecting with the Reader (11:54)Chapter 4 - Writing as a Black Author (15:03)Chapter 5 - The Author's Role in Shaping Kids' Minds (17:26)Chapter 6 - Varian's Favorite School Visits (19:59)Chapter 7 - Addressing Toxic Masculinity in "Playing The Cards You're Dealt" (23:01)Chapter 8 - "Drawing in Color" (27:51)Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (29:08)Today's Beanstack featured librarian is Leah Wyan, the youth fiction selector for Tulsa City County Library in Oklahoma. In this week's episode she tells us about a recent heartwarming experience from her library featuring beloved author Jason Reynolds.Links https://varianjohnson.com/ https://www.thereadingculturepod.com/ https://www.beanstack.com/

This week on Next Reads, Erin reads from the book Vanished! (a Framed novel) by James Ponti. Read-alikes include: Howard Wallace, P.I. by Casey Lyall The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson

At only twenty-seven, our guest Shannon Wright has already had one helluva career. Shannon's work has been featured by outlets like NPR, The Nib, and the New York Times. She's illustrated several successful children's books, and her debut graphic novel, Twins, a collaboration with Varian Johnson, was released in 2020. In this interview, Shannon breaks down how she got to where she is today, describing the different support systems and mentors that helped her along the way. She talks about her mission to pay it forward and be a guide for other young illustrators. Shannon also describes the pressure she feels to brand herself and constantly produce content in order to stay relevant, a feeling many creatives can relate to. She explains how she learned to embrace all aspects of her personhood, and not focus solely on the work. In a similar vein, Shannon opens up about being pigeonholed, particularly as a Black creator whose work frequently focuses on social justice issues, and the importance of saying no to work that doesn't support her mental health or is at odds with her intuition. More from the episode… Shannon explains how she generates most of her income as a full-time freelancer, and what she hopes her workload looks like in the future. Shannon talks about the motive behind her the “Super Condensed Zine: Portfolios, Websites, Pitching & Agents!” and why it's important to empower other creators. “You don't have to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way just because it's there” — Shannon talks about how she handled the sudden interest in her work during the summer of 2020. What was the big mistake Shannon thought would get her permanently exiled from publishing, and why wasn't it half as bad as she thought? Shannon reflects on a time when her dedication to the work drove her to isolation, and what it took for her to finally see the light. How did Shannon restructure her work days, and build habits that encouraged her to rest and recharge? A conversation about Shannon's family reveals ways non-artists in your life can support you, even if your work is a mystery to them. More from Shannon Wright Shannon Wright is an illustrator and cartoonist based out of Richmond, Virginia. Some of her clients include The Guardian, TIME Magazine, The Nib, NY Times, Mother Jones, NPR, Google and Scholastic. She's illustrated several successful children's books, and her debut graphic novel, Twins, a collaboration with Varian Johnson, was released in 2020. She also teaches at her alma mater, VCU. Connect with Shannon Wright https://shannon-wright.com/ TWINS: https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/twins-9781338236132.html https://twitter.com/shannondrewthis https://www.instagram.com/shannondrewthis/ https://shannondrewthis.tumblr.com/ https://ko-fi.com/shannonwrightThe Autonomous Creative is brought to you by Authentic Visibility: marketing for creatives who (think they) hate marketing. Learn more here!

Jace chats with Barry Lyga about the new superhero anthology Generation Wonder. Filled with diverse heroes by diverse creators they are stories that truly reflect the world outside your window. Barry give is the lowdown story by story with some details about what each story is about. Plus the guys chat a bit about recruiting the writers for this project and why Barry decided to do it in the first place.   GENERATION WONDER A high-flying YA anthology featuring 13 short stories that turn superhero tropes on their head and offer fresh perspectives on modern myths Triumph. Tragedy. The empyreal. The infernal. Even the mundane, filtered through the fantastical. Superheroes are, appropriately enough, a sort of super-genre, encompassing all other story types. This YA anthology features 13 short stories that creatively turn superhero tropes on their head, while still paying homage to the genre that has found fans for more than eight decades. And there will be no mistake—superheroes don't have to just be generic handsome white dudes. Everyone in the world, no matter their race, sexual preference, pronouns, or level of ability, has dreamed of flying. Contributors include six New York Times bestselling authors, seven multiple award winners, a founder of We Need Diverse Books, and at least one author with millions of books in print in the U.S. alone. The collection is edited by New York Times bestselling author Barry Lyga, and it also features illustrations from Colleen Doran—New York Times bestselling cartoonist, and artist of the legendary Stan Lee's memoir. The full list of contributors includes: Barry Lyga, Paul Levitz, Sarah MacLean, Lamar Giles, Elizabeth Eulberg, Danielle Paige, Varian Johnson, Joseph Bruchac, Morgan Baden, Matthew Phillion, Anna-Marie McLemore, Sterling Gates, and Axie Oh.

In this episode, Nicole shares some new books she's purchased for the library's nonfiction sections, and they welcome Melissa, Circulation Assistant, to the show. The resources discussed in this episode are discussed below: The Mean Girls: A Bunch of Bullies by Atiyah C. Henley; Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky; What Is Black Lives Matter? by Lakita Wilson; What Were the Negro Leagues? by Varian Johnson; What Is Congress? by Jill Abramson; What Was the Bombing of Hiroshima? by Jess Brallier; What Was the Holocaust? by Gail Herman; What is Rock and Roll? by Jim O'Connor; What Are the Winter Olympics by Gail Herman; Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health by Thomas Insel; Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women who Dared to Rule the High Seas by Leigh Lewis; The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton; Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe; The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow; The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow; Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead; The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead; Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead; The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead; Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead; Zone One by Colson Whitehead; Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times by Azar Nafisi; The Princess Bride Cookbook by Jen Fujikawa; The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra by Shin Takahashi and Iroha Inoue; Bridgerton Netflix show; Strike HBO show

In this episode, we've made World Read Aloud Day a family affair. Author Tami Charles and her son, Christopher, join host Suzanne McCabe to discuss Tami's picture book, All Because You Matter, which was named the Best Children's Book of 2020 by Amazon. Next, author Varian Johnson and his daughters, Savannah and Sydney, read from Varian's graphic novel, Twins, which was chosen as a top-10 graphic novel of 2021 by the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. Then, author Aida Salazar and her children, Avelina and M.J. Santos, read from Aida's brand-new picture book in verse, In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color. Created by the nonprofit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, World Read Aloud Day is celebrated in more than 173 countries. The annual event takes place this year on February 2. Participants are invited to grab a book, find an audience, and, yes, read aloud. Research shows that reading aloud provides several benefits to children. It helps strengthen their cognitive development, improve their vocabulary, and increase their attention span. Best of all, it fosters joy. As one teacher told us: “My favorite part is when I look up and see ‘that look, that smile' that tells me I've hooked one more reader who will fall in love with reading for a lifetime.” Special Thanks: Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate producer: Constance Gibbs Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl

Comic Reviews: DC Batman/Catwoman Special by John Paul Leon, Tom King, Bernard Chang, Shawn Crystal, Mitch Gerads, Dave Stewart, Walt Simonson, Ram V  Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace by Garth Ennis, Garry Brown, Lee Loughridge Superman and Robin Special by Peter Tomasi, Viktor Bogdanovic, Scott Hanna, Daniel Henriques, Matt Santorelli, Ivan Plascencia, Matt Herms Mister Miracle: The Great Escape GN by Varian Johnson, Daniel Isles Teen Titans Go/DC Super Hero Girls: Exchange Students by Amy Wolfram, Agnes Garbowska Marvel Devil's Reign: Winter Soldier 1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Nico Leon, Felipe Sobreiro Marauders Annual 1 by Steve Orlando, Creees Hyunsung Lee, Rain Beredo Mary Jane and Black Cat Beyond by Jed MacKay, C.F. Villa, Erick Arciniega X Deaths of Wolverine 1 by Benjamin Percy, Federico Vincentini, Dijjo Lima, Frank Martin Amazing Spidey 87 by Jed MacKay, Carlos Gomez, Bryan Valenza Image Saga 55 by Brian K Vaughan, Fiona Staples IDW Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid 1 by Stan Sakai Titan Cowboy Bebop 1 by Dan Watters, Lamar Mathurin Dark Horse Falconspeare by Mike Mignola, Warwick Johnson-Cadwell Heavy Metal Taarna Elements by David Erwin, Matthew Medney, Butch Guice Adventures of Adrienne James 0 by Matthew Medney, Bruce Edwards, Geraldo Borges Black Beacon 1 by Ryan Lindsay, Sebastian Piriz Zenescope All Guts No Glory 1 by Ralph Tedesco, Guillermo Fajardo, Walter Pereyra Behemoth Quad 1 by Eduardo Schaal Humanoids Space Bastards: Special Delivery by Joe Aubrey, Eric Peterson, Gabo, Simon Bisley, Boo Cook OGNs Dewdrop by K. O'Neill Aquicorn Cove by K. O'Neill Petals by Gustavo Borges, Kris Peter What is It by Nicole Hoang, Dustin Nguyen Dodo by Felipe Nunes Pilu of the Woods by Mai Kguyen Additional Reviews: The House, Boba Fett ep5, Encanto News: new Tony Fleecs project, Alysia Yeoh cast, new Daredevil #1, new all-ages OGN from Sholly Fisch: Batman's Mystery Casebook, TKO/Simon and Schuster deal, Chuck Austen's Edgeworld optioned at Amazon, Maus, Iron Man marrying Hellcat, Flash renewed for s9, Substack updates, Green Lantern Legacy sequel Most awkward Next Gen ep ever? Trailers: Halo Comics Countdown: Batman/Catwoman Special by John Paul Leon, Tom King, Bernard Chang, Shawn Crystal, Mitch Gerads, Dave Stewart, Walt Simonson, Ram V Deadly Class 50 by Rick Remender, Wes Craig, Lee Loughridge Black Hammer Reborn 8 by Jeff Lemire, Rich Tommaso, Matt Sheean, Malachi Ward Night of the Ghoul 4 by Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla Human Target 4 by Tom King, Greg Smallwood House of Slaughter 4 by James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal, Chris Shehan, Miquel Muerto, Werther Dell'Edera Thor 21 by Donny Cates, Nic Klein, Matt Wilson Amazing Spider-Man 87 by Jed MacKay, Carlos Gomez, Bryan Valenza Clear 4 by Scott Snyder, Francis Manapul Superman '78 6 by Robert Venditti, Wilfredo Torres, Jordie Bellaire

Jace chats with writer Varian Johnson about his recently released Young Adult Graphic Novel, Mister Miracle: The Great Escape. Varian talks about his collaboration with artist Daniel Isles and what Daniel's design sense brought to the project. There is also a lot of discussion about the relatability of the characters in the book as they go through the very formative years of early adolescence. Plus Varian talks about putting his own spin on the classic Jack Kirby creation, Scott Free.   About Varian Johnson Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards; The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Book for Children and Kirkus Reviews Best Book; and the graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, which won a BCALA Children & Youth Literary Award for best graphic novel and was named an Eisner Award nominee. Originally from Florence, South Carolina, he received an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian currently lives outside of Austin, Texas, with his family.   About Daniel Isles Daniel Isles is a professional artist committed to artistic practice, observation, themes, and expression to create entire worlds of his own. His unique illustration style has been used within many industries including fashion, music, authorship, and technology. He has worked and collaborated with Apple, DC Comics, Sega, Mighty Jaxx, Kidrobot, Timberland, and Owsla.

First Draft Episode #337: Lamar Giles Lamar Giles, author of the acclaimed novels Fake ID, Endangered, Overturned, Spin, Not So Pure and Simple. He joins us to talk about his middle-grade series The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, Last Chance for Logan County, and and The Last Mirror on the Left. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box. Use offer code "draftsips” for 50% off your first Sips By box! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman The Bunnicula series by James Howe and Deborah Howe Misery and It by Stephen King Danielle Steele, author of The Butler, Flying Angels, Complications, and more. The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Unwind by Neal Shusterman Reality Check by Peter Abrahams Fallen Angels by Walter D WitSec: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program by Pete Earley Dennis Lahane, author of Shutter Island, Mystic River, A Drink Before the War and many more Phoebe Yeh, v-p, publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers Ellen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim, Spirit Hunters, and The Dragon Egg Princess (Hear her First Draft interview here) Kwame Alexander, Newberry-winning author of The Crossover and publisher of the Versify imprint We Need Diverse Books Jody Corbett, Senior Editor at Scholastic Dapo Adeola illiustrated The Last Last-Day-of-Summer and Last Chance for Logan County Derick Brooks illustrated Lamar's most recent middle-grade book, The Last Mirror on the Left Duck Tales (TV show) Joy Revolution, the imprint started by bestselling writers Nicola Yoon (#1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star talks about her new YA, Instructions For Dancing - hear her First Draft interviews here and here) and David Yoon, author of Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, and Version Zero (hear his First Draft interview here) Steven Barnes, New York Times bestselling fantasy and sci-fi writer and screenwriter Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451  

First Draft Episode #336: Varian Johnson Varian Johnson, award-winning author of The Parker Inheritance, Twins, The Great Greene Heist, joins us to talk about his most recent middle-grade, Playing the Cards You're Dealt. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box. Use offer code "draftsips” for 50% off your first Sips By box! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Then Again Maybe I Won't, and Iggie's House by Judy Blume Motown and Didi by Walter Dean Myers Virginia Hamilton, author of The People Could Fly: Black American Folktales, Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, and more Sara Crowe, Varian's literary agent at Pippin Properties Andrew Karre, Executive editor at Dutton Books for Young Readers Cheryl Klein, editorial director at Lee & Low and formerly at Scholastic, and author of The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Holes by Louis Sachar Ally Carter, New York Times bestselling author of the Gallagher Girls series, the Heist Society series, the Embassy Row series, Not If I Save You First, Dear Ally: How Do You Write a Book?, and a new middle grade series that kicks off with Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor. (Hear her First Draft interview here) Kate Messner, author of Over and Under the Snow, All the Answers, Capture the Flag, and many (MANY) more The Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program Sharon Darrow, author of Trash, The Painters of Lexieville and more Rita Williams-Garcia, author of One Crazy Summer, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, Like Sisters on the Homefront, and more Tim Wynne-Jones, author of Blink & Caution, The Uninvited, and more Nick Thomas, Varian's editor at Scholastic, currently senior editor at Levine Querido Shannon Wright, illustrator of Twins Jenne Abramowitz, executive editor at Scholastic What Were the Negro Leagues? by Varian Johnson Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Dion Graham makes every audiobook he narrates into a special event, and his charisma just overflows in this one about Ant, a 10-year-old boy from South Carolina. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discuss Varian Johnson's newest middle-grade audiobook about Ant's obsession with winning the community's spades tournament—and getting his father's hard-won approval despite changes at home. When Ant's best friend and spades partner is grounded, he finds an unexpected partner in Shirley, the new girl in school. Graham imbues each character with personality, but the standout is his vivid portrayal of the omniscient narrator watching Ant's struggles. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mc comes from Graphic Audio. Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind. Try a radically different audiobook! Dramatized adaptations produced with a full cast, cinematic music and sound effects. Action packed productions like you never heard before. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Discount prices reflected on product pages at GraphicAudio.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Bent Biblios Podcast we chat with talented author and illustrator Emma Steinkellner!  Emma was so kind, and we had so much fun creating this episode!  We talk all about The Okay Witch, The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow, Nanowrimo, childhood memories and more.  We hope you enjoy!Books mentioned in todays episode:Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen WangAnya's Ghost by Vera BrosgolTwins by Varian Johnson and Shannon WrightThe Black Mage by Daniel BarnesEmma's Books:The Okay WitchAmazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Okay-Witch-Emma-Steinkellner/dp/1534431454/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=okay+witch&qid=1635514252&sr=8-1Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Okay-Witch-Emma-Steinkellner/dp/1534431454/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FCS0NV7D9AKV&dchild=1&keywords=the+okay+witch&qid=1635514157&sprefix=the+ok%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-okay-witch-emma-steinkellner/1130508226?ean=9781534431454Chapters Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-okay-witch/9781534431454-item.html?ikwid=okay+witch&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=1#algoliaQueryId=a7b3db8ae0785309aa4977d24819f6ecThe Okay Witch and the Hungry ShadowAmazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Okay-Witch-Hungry-Shadow/dp/1534431489/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/142-6145981-8714837?pd_rd_w=trsqU&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=EH506MA2R6FCMFHZJ4TH&pd_rd_r=08757706-2821-41cc-83c4-ae4a707b2aff&pd_rd_wg=HtpBI&pd_rd_i=1534431489&psc=1Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08LDVRXVT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-okay-witch-and-the-hungry-shadow-emma-steinkellner/1138015352?ean=9781534431485Chapters Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-okay-witch-and-the/9781534431485-item.html?ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=2b10fb27056c32e5b6abd92d24f3dd44Keep up to date with Emma here:Website: http://www.emmasteinkellner.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/emsteinkellnerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emsteinkellner/If you liked today's episode, please leave us a review or visit us on Instagram at @bent.biblios.podcast and let us know!We put up new episodes every Friday.  See you then!

Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards; The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Children's book and Kirkus Reviews Best Book; and the graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, an NPR Best Book. Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family. Kim Tate is a fifth-grade dual language teacher at International Prep Academy in Champaign, Illinois, where she is a member of her school improvement leadership team, as well as co-chair of her school's equity committee. In addition to being a children's fiction enthusiast, Kim is a 2021-2022 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow and an NWP Panda Fellow. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Millikin University, where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education. She is currently completing her MEd in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards; The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Children's book and Kirkus Reviews Best Book; and the graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, an NPR Best Book. Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family.Kim Tate is a fifth-grade dual language teacher at International Prep Academy in Champaign, Illinois, where she is a member of her school improvement leadership team, as well as co-chair of her school's equity committee. In addition to being a children's fiction enthusiast, Kim is a 2021-2022 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow and an NWP Panda Fellow. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Millikin University, where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education. She is currently completing her MEd in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In this episode, Anika talks about the book Twins, and does an author talk on Varian Johnson To learn more about Varian Johnson, explore the site below: varianjohnson.com Stay tuned for new episodes every Sunday --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/anika674/message

On this week's episode: It's Dan's last show before book leave! Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dan discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener who is wondering how she should help her son navigate a friendship that's not so friendly. Later, they have some advice for a mother who would like to avoid talking about her daughter right in front of her, but that's hard to do when you're a single parent. In Slate Plus: Summer jobs, entrepreneurial kids, and Dan's crushing camp counselor file secrets are revealed!  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends the graphic novel Twins by Varian Johnson & Shannon Wright. Elizabeth recommends you pack your kids lunches using the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunchbox, the Yumbox and Bee's Wrap! Dan recommends watching Netflix's teen show Never Have I Ever with your older kids.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.  Hosts  Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chronicles her misadventures at Dutch, Dutch, Goose. Jamilah Lemieux is a writer, cultural critic, and communications strategist based in Brooklyn, New York. Dan Kois is an editor and writer at Slate. He's the author of How to Be a Family and the co-author of The World Only Spins Forward. Social @JamilahLemieux on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamilahLemieux @dutchdutchgoose on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dutchdutchgoose/ @dankois on Twitter https://twitter.com/DanKois Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode: It's Dan's last show before book leave! Jamilah, Elizabeth, and Dan discuss their triumphs and fails for the week. Then they answer a question from a listener who is wondering how she should help her son navigate a friendship that's not so friendly. Later, they have some advice for a mother who would like to avoid talking about her daughter right in front of her, but that's hard to do when you're a single parent. In Slate Plus: Summer jobs, entrepreneurial kids, and Dan's crushing camp counselor file secrets are revealed!  Recommendations: Jamilah recommends the graphic novel Twins by Varian Johnson & Shannon Wright. Elizabeth recommends you pack your kids lunches using the PackIt Freezable Classic Lunchbox, the Yumbox and Bee's Wrap! Dan recommends watching Netflix's teen show Never Have I Ever with your older kids.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Morgan Flannery.  Hosts  Elizabeth Newcamp is a co-host of Mom and Dad Are Fighting. She's a traveling mother of three boys who chronicles her misadventures at Dutch, Dutch, Goose. Jamilah Lemieux is a writer, cultural critic, and communications strategist based in Brooklyn, New York. Dan Kois is an editor and writer at Slate. He's the author of How to Be a Family and the co-author of The World Only Spins Forward. Social @JamilahLemieux on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamilahLemieux @dutchdutchgoose on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dutchdutchgoose/ @dankois on Twitter https://twitter.com/DanKois Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join the National Writing Project's The Write Time with Kwame Mbalia, editor of Black Boy Joy, two additional contributors Varian Johnson and Julian Randall, and Washington, DC area teacher, Cosby Hunt. Black Boy Joy, released on August 3, is a book that celebrates the excellence of young Black males, their happiness, their voices, and their stories. We are excited to discuss the project with them on this episode.

Join the National Writing Project's The Write Time with Kwame Mbalia, editor of Black Boy Joy, two additional contributors Varian Johnson and Julian Randall, and Washington, DC area teacher, Cosby Hunt. Black Boy Joy, released on August 3, is a book that celebrates the excellence of young Black males, their happiness, their voices, and their stories. We are excited to discuss the project with them on this episode.

Coretta Scott King honor-winning author, Varian Johnson discusses his charming graphic novel, Twin. He also spoke about his much anticipated middle school novel, playing the Cards You're Dealt.

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly talk about the lively and fun full-cast production that brings Varian Johnson's Eisner-nominated middle-grade graphic novel to life. Maureen and Francine are Black twin sisters forever being mistaken for one another until they start middle school and outgoing Francine, voiced with confidence by Grace Capeless, decides to run for class president. But the story is told from Maureen's point of view, and Ahnya O'Riordan's youthful voice captures her anxieties about change and her frustration at her sister--which manifest in her also running for class president! Sound effects and upbeat music set the scene as O'Riordan and Capeless convey the twins' growing conflict over the election--and the strength of their bond when secrets come to light. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, author Varian Johnson and illustrator Shannon Wright talk about Twins, their new graphic novel for middle-graders. The story centers around Maureen and Francine Carter, twin sisters who are growing up—and growing apart as they enter middle school. The Carter sisters also happen to be Black. “Writing the girls in this way, where there's not a big trauma arc, was a very intentional choice,” Varian says. “It's almost like a political act.” Varian has written several critically-acclaimed novels, including The Great Greene Heist and The Parker Inheritance, which was named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book in 2019. He and Shannon describe the experience of creating their first graphic novel together and why they think Twins is such a hit with young readers. Resources: The Power of Story: Diverse Books for All Readers (https://www.scholastic.com/site/power-of-story.html) 13 Black-Owned Bookstores to Know About (https://oomscholasticblog.com/post/13-black-owned-bookstores-you-should-absolutely-know-about) Learn More About Author Varian Johnson (http://varianjohnson.com/) Learn More About Illustrator Shannon Wright (https://shannon-wright.com/) Special Thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate Producer: Constance Gibbs Sound Engineer: Daniel Jordan Coming Soon: Women and STEM

This week Tayla is joined by Shaun (big_daddy_cosplay) and Liz (cosbrarian) to talk about cosplay and how their relationship with the hobby has changed during quarantine. They also talked about recent comics from Marvel and DC, Wandavision, and novels in verse. During The Last Chapter, they answer the question: Would you rather have a book’s ending spoiled for you OR never know the ending? Like what you hear? Rate and review Down Time on Apple Podcasts or your podcast player of choice! If you’d like to submit a topic for The Last Chapter you can send your topic suggestions to downtime@cranstonlibrary.org. Our theme music is Day Trips by Ketsa and our ad music is Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes. Thanks for listening! Books Iron Man (2020) by Christopher Cantwell and C Cafu DC Future State Beauty Mark by Carole Boston Weatherford The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Sick Kids In Love by Hannah Moskowitz Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru Sweet Dreams, Supergirl by Michael Dahl and Omar Lozano AV Cobra Kai (2018- ) WandaVision (2021- ) The Good Place (2016-2020) Ted Lasso (2020- ) Third Citizen Theatre Company American Gods (2017-) Good Omens (2019) My Hero Academia (2016- ) Naruto (2002-2007) GLOW (2017-2019) Other Operation: Birthday Rescue Invisible Heroes of Tomorrow Philly Avengers Instagram Facebook

From clever costumed superheroes to persistent little girls, makers come in all shapes and sizes. Host Gillian King-Cargile (@gkingcargile) will highlight new stories that focus on thinking, tinkering, and making. First, she’ll interview Ruth Spiro (@RuthSpiro), author of Made By Maxine and the Baby Loves Science series, about her latest book Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever . The book explores the friendship between two very different makers who want to build, grow, and make the world a little more functional and fabulous. Then, she’ll interview Varian Johnson (author of The Parker Inheritance ) (@varianjohnson) and Darian Johnson (@darianbjohnson). They’re twin brothers with backgrounds in structural engineering and technology and they just collaborated on a Batman comic in the new DC book Flash Facts: Ten Terrific Tales about Science and Technology . The comic anthology shares fun adventures with superheroes exploring everything from 3-D printing to the depths of the ocean to

Listen to youth and teen librarians Annamarie, Michala, and Lisa K as they share their favorite kid and teen books of 2020. Annamarie's recommendations: Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28your%20name%20is%20a%20song%29%20a%3A%28Jamilah%20Thompkins-Bigelow%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Ty's Travels Kelly Starling Lyons https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28Ty%E2%80%99s%20Travels%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Emma Everyday by C. L. Reid https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28emma%20every%20day%29%20a%3A%28C.%20L.%20Reid%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold American As Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28american%20as%20pie%29%20a%3A%28Supriya%20Kelkar%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Twins by by Varian Johnson ; illustrated by Shannon Wright https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sa%3A%28Johnson%20%20Varian%29%20t%3A%28twins%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Michala's Recommendations: Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1951737__S%28Kyi%20%20Tanya%20Lloyd%20%201973%29%20t%3A%28me%20and%20banksy%29__Orightresult__U__X3?lang=eng&suite=gold Eat, and Love Yourself by Sweeney Boo https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__SBoo%20%20Sweeney%20__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=gold Kent State by Deborah Wiles https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28kent%20state%29%20a%3A%28deborah%20wiles%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__SHammonds%20Reed%20%20Christina%20__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=gold Lisa's Recommendations: Friday Night Wrestlefest by J.F. Fox ; illustrated by Micah Player https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28Friday%20Night%20Wrestlefest%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold InvestiGators Volume 1 written and illustrated by John Patrick Green ; with color by Aaron Polk https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28investigators%29%20%28green%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28sal%20and%20gabi%20fix%20the%20universe%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28when%20stars%20are%20scattered%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold

It is 'World Read Aloud Day', and since it is also Black History Month in the U.S., we thought it would be fun to have our 'sidekick', our dad Aswin, read a chapter from The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson.

Identical twin brothers, engineers and comic book writers Varian and Darian Johnson give us the Flash Facts about 3-D Printing in the new DC Comics Graphic Novel put forth by Mayim Bialik. In a graphic novel geared towards 8-to-12 year olds, Flash Facts takes us through a handful of chapters in the applied sciences more commonly referred to now as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) sometimes also called STEAM (the "A" is for Arts) and how these items, when applied correctly can add major value to our lives. Enter Varian and Darian Johnson, identical twin brothers who wrote Chapter Two's If You Can't Take the Heat, featuring Batman teaming up with Plastic Man in using a 3-D printer Varian Johnson was a structural engineer before he became a writer and Darian Johnson works in 3-D printing. The Johnson brothers teamed up together for this seven page story in how Batman using STEM to create a flame retardant suit. These two gentlemen had a lot of interesting things to say about the state of education, the significance of applied sciences and what it's like being adult twins with rhyming names...of which, my maternal grandparents did to my uncles. As a former educator myself and the son of an engineer, this book is very important to me because I lost interest in the sciences quite quickly simply with the way the subject matters were taught. Engineering is taught using geometry and theory long before we ever looked at an engine or a building and by the time we got to those things, I was already uninterested. Science classes were worse because we learned a million Greek and Latin terms before getting to the most worthless pay off at the end of the 45 minute lesson...and that's how you make a glass bottle. That's my little venting fest for now. Follow Varian Johnson on Twitter @vjohnson and his official website www.varianjohnson.com. Follow Darian Johnson at his official website www.darianmakes.com Flash Facts is available this today, Tuesday, February 2, 2021 from DC Comics. #STEM #STEAM #FlashFacts #DCComics #MayimBialik #VarianJohnson #DarianJohnson #Engineering #3DPrinting #FanboyNation

Today, we talk about 2020. Yes, we voluntarily went back there! Though much was lost this year, and many things felt by turns unfamiliar and maddeningly repetitive, we had a good year. With 3 new members added to our team, many new books released, and new contracts signed! Together we clung to the successes and joy.  Kate Testerman, Sara Megibow, Kelly VanSant, Jas Perry, Aida Lilly, and Renee Nyen talk about 2020 and look ahead to what 2021 has in store for kt literary.   Here are some of our favorite reads of 2020! Kate loved: Enjoy the View by Sarah MorganthalerStamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi  Sara loved: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria ChaoBlack Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Aida loved: Consider This by Chuck PalahniukThe Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab Kelly loved: The Unravelling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. SloanA Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Rosanne A. BrownBlack Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Jas loved: Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon WrightLong Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds written by Danica Novgorodoff Renee loved: Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious seriesYou Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson  You can find us at ktliterary.com and on Twitter and Instagram.

In the tenth episode, Tori and Nicole talk about some new books including inspirational young adult fiction picks as well as some new romance and mystery titles that will appear on library shelves soon. Plus, a new juvenile graphic novel, young adult science fiction, fun socks and a great place to grab some lunch! The resources discussed in this episode are listed below: Quantum by Patricia Cornwell; The Scorpion's Tail by Preston & Child; NYPD Red 6 by James Patterson; Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins; Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner; Neighbors by Danielle Steel; Wyoming Heart by Diana Palmer; Wyoming True by Diana Palmer; Vivid by Beverly Jenkins; Confessions in B Flat by Donna Hill; The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack; The Dark Veil by James Swallow; Star Trek Discovery TV show; The Expanse TV show; The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey; Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey; Forever Hidden by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse; A Picture of Love by Beth Wiseman; Twins by Varian Johnson, illustrated by Shannon Wright; Viral Parenting: A Guide to Setting Boundaries, Building Trust, and Raising Responsible Kids in an Online World by Mindy McKnight; Left Behind: The Kids series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye; Sticks and Stones by Dianne Beck; Fallen Leaves by Tessa Emily Hall; Warcross by Marie Lu; The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain; John's Crazy Socks Cafe on Main

Nicole and Matthew share a selection of the books they’ve recommended most this year.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life. , Spacebattle Lunchtime Vol. 3 by Natalie Riess (REESE) from Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and Odessa by Jonathan Hill from Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: BOARD BOOKS: Lil Libros written by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes ABC For Me: ABC What Can I Be?: YOU Can Be Anything YOU Want To Be, From A To Zby Sugar Snap Studio, Jessie Ford Our Little Adventures: Stories Featuring Foundational Language Concepts for Growing Minds by Tabitha Paige Future Baby (series) by Lori Alexander – Future President, Future Engineer, FutureAstronaut PICTURE BOOKS: Your Name is a Songby Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelowillustrated by Luisa Uribe We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, Michaela Goade Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon; illustrated by Kaylani Juanita Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina; illustrated by Sonia Sanchez NONFICTION: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World by Elena Favilli Woke: A Young Poet’s Call To Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes, And Anecdotes From A To Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters; illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini Girls Who Build: Inspiring Curiosity and Confidence to Make Anything Possible by Katie Hughes A Kids Book About (series) – A Kids Book About Systemic Racism by Jordan Thierry, A Kids Book About Feminism by Emma Mcilroy, A Kids Book About Shame by Jamie Letourneau, A Kids Book About Depression by Kileah McIlvain, and more MIDDLE GRADE: Maya and the Rising Darkby Rena Barron From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks BenBee And The Teacher Griefer: The Kids Under the Stairs by K.A. Holt A Wish In The Dark by Christina Soontornvat Three Keys by Kelly Yang GRAPHIC NOVELS: Go with the Flowby Karen Schneemann, Lily Williams Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter Class Act by Jerry Craft Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright share TWINS, an all new middle grade graphic novel. It’s fair to say that both Varian and Shannon put a lot of themselves into making this comic, but what surprised me most was how much of all of us are in these panels. Twins Maureen and Francine are off to middle school and Fran has had just about enough of always being mistaken for her sister. So she sets out to carve her own path. Unfortunately there’s collateral damage to making such big attempts and it sets the girls as literal opponents in the race for class president. You and your readers are gonna love this one a whole lot!   You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/blog.   Get a copy of this book and support independent bookstores (and this podcast) by visiting our BookShop Store.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Bookclub (Patreon) Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Nicole and Matthew talk about the election, political leadership, and using your voice to bring about democratic change.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, Julian at the Wedding by Jessica Love, and Emporia State University’s School of Library & Information Management. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: PebbleGo Vote Scholastic’s “Elections” resource bank Teaching Tolerance “Voting and Voices” Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books: Future President by Lori Alexander; illustrated by Allison Black A Kids Book About Votingby Next Up We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders If You Go with Your Goat to Vote by Jan Zauzmer; illustrated by Andrew Roberts V Is for Voting by Kate Farrell; illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Micah Player Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen; illustrated by Magdalena Mora When Penny Met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz; illustrated Melissa Manwill Lift as You Climb: the Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm by Katheryn Russell-Brown; illustrated by Eric Velasquez Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb by Veronica Chambers; illustrated by Rachelle Baker Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Laura Freeman Middle Grade: We the People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained by Evan Sargent; illustrated by Aura Lewis Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon Wright Closing note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about #ownvoices representation in comics, pocket culture, and we reflect on Black Panther and the late Chadwick Boseman. Joining is special guest Paul Meyer, co-author of Under the Cottonwood Tree: El Susto de la Curandera, a graphic novel with Carlos Meyer and illustrated by Margaret Hardy. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O’Neill and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and This is a Flying Rat by Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: Under the Cottonwood Tree (website) Under the Cottonwood Tree (book trailer) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Listener Recommendations New Kid by Jerry Craft (recommended by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, Urania Smith, and Angie Moore) Class Act by Jerry Craft (recommended by Eric Carpenter) El Deafo by Cece Bell (recommended by Angie Moore) Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi (recommended by Lisa Stringfellow) Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware The Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Brooke A. Allen, and Grace Ellis (recommended by Laura Jimènez, PhD) When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (recommended by Kim Bongiorno) Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon Wright (recommended by Paula Willey) Guts by Raina Telgemeier (recommended by Kellee Moye) Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka (recommended by Kellee Moye) (*Young Adult) March: Book One by John Lewis,Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (recommended by Nancy Castaldo) (*Young Adult) More Graphic Novels Stargazing by Jen Wang Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Flamer by Mike Curato (*Young Adult) This Place: 150 Years Retold from Highwater Press (*Young Adult) Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we welcome award-winning author Varian Johnson to speak live on all things writing, creating and geek out on books and more. Video for this interview is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgTbr-bQjB0

Nicole and Matthew discuss how the coronavirus is affecting decisions to reopen schools and what school will look like in the fall. This episode is sponsored by: Read or Dead, Book Riot’s mystery/thriller podcast Act by Kayla Miller, HMH Books for Young Readers Peng!: Action Sports Adventures from Oni Press To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: A School Reopens, and the Coronavirus Creeps In (NYT) Ways School Librarians Can Serve Students in Fall 2020 Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books: The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram; illustrated by Mariona Cabassa The Thing about Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan; illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow Chapter Books: 13th Street #1: Battle of the Bad-Breath Bats by David Bowles; illustrated by Shane Clester #2: The Fire-Breathing Ferret Fiasco (13th Street series) #3: Clash of the Cackling Cougars (13th Street series) Middle Grade: Under the Cottonwood Tree by Paul Meyer and Carlos Meyer; Illustrated by Margaret Hardy Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan Three Keys by Kelly Yang The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).

Paula Chase and I chat about her novels SO DONE and DOUGH BOYS and what makes them upper middle grade instead of young adult. She discusses founding The Brown Bookshelf with Varian Johnson, the importance of representation in literature, and how we should focus less on Black pain and more on Black joy. We also talk about her writing practices as a committed pantser, how she fell backward into being an author, writing in the voice of teenagers, refusing to “just shut up” on social media, meeting Flavor Flav at a Waffle House, an actual ghost story, and so much more. They say if you want something done, ask the busiest person in the room. They'll grab your task, throw it on the fire of their To-Do list and keep on burning. Paula Chase did that with teen lit and her debut novel, So Not The Drama. Concerned that YA was no more diverse than it had been in her teen years, Chase began writing contemporary fiction revolved around characters of color. Proclaiming her work, hip lit, a nod to the impact hip hop has had on mainstream culture, Chase's five-book series helped Kensington Books launch its YA line. Her critically acclaimed Middle Grade debut, So Done is among the growing number of books for readers "lost in the middle" of MG and YA. The married mother of two is also a co-founder of the award-winning blog, The Brown Bookshelf, a site designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers.

Introducing our new member of the kt literary team, Jas Perry! Jas Perry is a freelance editor and Manhattan-based associate agent with kt literary. She attended New York University in Florence and London before graduating with a degree in English from CUNY Hunter College. She was awarded the We Need Diverse Books Internship Grant and held several editorial intern positions with Levine Querido and Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books, where she assisted on titles by Kelly Yang, Varian Johnson, Daniel José Older, Eric Gansworth, A.S. King, Francisco X Stork, and Cherie Priest, among others. Jas is Black American/Japanese and interested in representing a diverse range of strong voices — especially by disabled and/or QTPOC creators. She particularly enjoys dark contemporary fiction, offbeat humor, (Alondra Nelson-defined) Afrofuturism, and bold SFF that makes her think. Find Jas on Twitter at @TakahshiPerryDownload the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitchr, and more platforms! And please do rate, review, and subscribe to the show.

This week on Story Effect, Abigail promotes five Middle Grade and Young Adult books about black protagonists and by black authors. Featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling black authors writing for teens today, these stories shed light on the teen black experience in America, and provide a variety of interesting tales for girls and boys alike. Add these to your summer reading list, and purchase at your local bookstore or borrow them from the library to support black authors, while simultaneously encouraging your growth and learning. Books covered in this podcast induce:You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America by Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Rita Williams-Garcia, Dhonielle Clayton, Kekla Magoon, Leah Henderson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Ibi Zoboi, Lamar Giles Ghost by Jason Reynolds Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert New Kid by Jerry Craft

Nicole and Matthew discuss the creative ways books and bookmakers are connecting with readers during stay-at-home regulations. Joining is special guest Christina Soontornvat, author of A Wish in the Dark and co-founder of the Everywhere Book Fest. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger from Scholastic Fun Fun Fun World by Yehudi Mercado from Oni Press and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Everywhere Book Fest Every Child a Reader's resources for Children's Book Week #OperationStorytime from Romper (on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using hashtag #operationstorytime) “Write. Right. Rite." Series with Jason Reynolds BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison MIDDLE GRADE: Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega Twins (Twins #1) by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright The Land of the Cranesby Aida Salazar The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).

Writer Varian Johnson of "The Parker Inheritance" shares his secrets about writing a successful mystery with host Kitty Felde.

Do you love a mystery? Do you love playing detective, looking for clues on every page? This week’s novel is about a lot of things – segregation, bullying, and most of all, a family mystery.  This week's episode is "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson. Our readers are from Washington DC’s AIM Academy. Actress Sheila Collins is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

With M. Lauren gallivanting through Miami like a City Girl, HerBrina sits down with Armani, founder of Curly, Curvy, Connected. They talked about how Black Women are legit superheroes, how comparison is a joy stealer, and appreciated Cris for being an amazing Black Man! Question of the Week: Where do you connect with other like minded people? HerBrina's Black Girl Reads list of the week: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson and The Wedding Date #1 by Jasmine Guillory Quote of the Week: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. What's Hot? June is PRIDE month June 22: The FOS Network Presents Freedom of Speech LIVE @ 7p June 29: Waterloo Arts Fest @ 12p Keep up with WIMT and our guests: @WHSKYnTEA_CLE @EmElleWriter @Sunof_MySmile @armanimarshai @curlycurvyconnected @cwood216 @thefosnetwork #selflove #selfacceptance #curlygirls #honoryourcurves #honoryourtruth #whiskeyinmytea #thefosnetwork #piratesoftheerie #clevelandisthebrand

We each give a rundown of the things we enjoyed most in 2018 and it's a ridiculously long list. Lindsey: The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, Cardboard Kingdom (various authors), Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphana, Saga vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, As the Crow Flies (by Melanie Gillman?), The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez, The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert, Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali, Ladycastle by Delilah S. Dawson, The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the best burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding, Leah on the Offbeat AND Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali, The Lady's Guide to Piracy and Petticoats by Mackenzi Lee, Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour, Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen, Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore, and Archenemies by Marissa Meyer. Nate: Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazi, and the film Captain Ron (really?) Kim: Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa, Monstress Vol. 3 by Marjorie Liu, My Brother's Husband by Gengorah Tagame, #NotYourPrincess (edited) by Charleyboy, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, Laid-back Camp by Afro, and Crush by Svetlana Chmakova Molly: The Photogrpaher by Didier Lefèvre, Emmanuel Guibert, and Frédéric Lemercier, The Damkeeper by Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi, Witchboy by Molly Ostertag, My Brother's Husband by Gengorah Tagame, The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, My Hearbeat by Garret Freyman-Weyr, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, What if it's Us by Becky Albertali and Adam Silvera, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. Cash Money: Dopesick by Beth Macy. Television shows: Curious Creations of Christine McConnell, American Gods, Killing Eve, Brooklyn 99, Superstore, The Good Place, Big Mouth, Billions, Adam Ruins Everything, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sharp Objects, Nanette by Hannah Gadsby, CNN's 70s, 80s, and 90s documentaries, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, Brainchild. Podcasts: Binge Mode, Ologies. YouTube Channels: New Rock Stars. Instagram Celebrities: Celeste Barber and Donte Colley. Bands: Blood Orange and The Wiggles. Nathan: Less by Andrew Sean Greer, Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse, the podcast Shelf-Involved.

Intro Hi everyone and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a teacher, a mom, and battling a cold this afternoon! So if I sound a little...off - that is why! This is episode #68 and Today I’m answering some questions about trends in middle grade and sharing with you some fabulous 2019 titles to look forward to this year! Q&A - Trends in Middle Grade Fiction Last month, my husband asked me some questions about trends in middle grade fiction. He teaches a class at Seton Hall all about trends in genre fiction and wanted some input on middle grade. So I thought I would share my responses with you. And I would be very curious about what YOU would answer. What genres or subgenres do you believe are the hottest right now? Well, it’s a format and not a genre but graphic novel memoirs like Hey Kiddo, Real Friends, and Be Prepared are still really popular. And also graphic novel adaptations of classics (like Anne of Green Gables) and popular novels (like Wings of Fire or Percy Jackson).  And again, not genre, but I see more books that are based on the core experiences of the writer. Those novels that draw on the real-life backgrounds of the authors like Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, Tami Charles’ Like Vanessa, and Supriya Kellar’s Ahimsa.  They’re not memoirs but they are books rooted in a very personal experience. To authors, I’d say - take those things that make you unique, that make you a bit quirky, that set you apart from most other people - and write THAT story. Like Kelly Yang taking the experiences of her family coming from China and running motels to write Front Desk. Jarrett Krosoczka writing the critically acclaimed graphic novel memoir Hey Kiddo about his life living with his grandparents after his mom lost custody of him due to drug addiction. Crack that door open and invite us inside. What genres or subgenres do you believe are passé or overexposed? I don’t know…. I do wonder how long the unicorn and narwhal craze will last but that seems to live more in picture books than middle grade. Magical realism - or rather realistic fiction with a magical twist - doesn’t seem to be slowing down. You know - anything can be new and fresh with the right spin.  And also, authors from marginalized backgrounds are still underrepresented in just about every genre so those are stories that will likely have new points of view. I thought I was totally over zombie stories but Dread Nation popped up and whoa!!  I’ve never read a zombie story like THAT before!   If you had to predict, what genre or subgenre do you think is primed to be the next Big Thing in the next year or so? I would say stories about immigrants, refugees, and the unique experiences of marginalized groups (especially by #ownvoices authors) will continue to be popular. Over the last couple of years we’ve seen an explosion of critically acclaimed middle grade stories like Alan Gratz’s Refugee, Jacqueline Woodson’s Harbor Me, and Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai among many more. We also have more and more books coming out that tell stories of police violence in developmentally appropriate ways like Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Blended by Sharon Draper.  I’m also really excited about a new crop of middle grade #MeToo stories on the horizon like So Done by Paula Chase and the upcoming Barbara Dee novel Maybe He Just Likes You.   Any comments about where you see genre fiction heading? In middle grade, like everywhere else,  #ownvoices books are still underrepresented  - everyone has a unique story to tell or a unique POV to offer.  EVERYONE. So my advice to authors, take the spark of your unique life experiences and let that burn throughout your story.  My advice to educators - scour those shelves to find a wider variety of books. Also - if you write for a YA/MG audience, librarians and educators are more and more eager to the ditch the old canon and form partnerships with authors. Look for opportunities like #KidsNeedMentors or reach out to your local schools and libraries.   Book Talk - Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2019   The last couple of episodes were all about looking back on some of the best that middle grade had to offer in 2018. (If you missed those, go check out episodes #66 and #67.)  But today is all about looking forward into the new year. Last year, when I did our Most Anticipated MG of 2018, I went chronologically by month. But this year I’m going about it a little differently and discussing the new releases by category.     First, we’ll chat about the new graphic novels coming up in 2019. And then we’ll talk about new releases from authors who debuted in 2018 and 2017 and see what they’re up to now. After that, I’ll give you a peek at some of the 2019 debut middle grade authors.  Then we’ll see what new books are coming out in favorite series and what sequels we have to look forward to. And finally, we’ll finish up with the 2019 releases from more established authors.   So, buckle up and get ready to add to your wish list. And remember - no need to go hunting for a pen and paper. You can find every book mentioned AND a picture of the available covers AND a link to pre-order them right on the Books Between post for this episode, #69, at MGBookVillage.com.  I’ve got your back, I know you’re busy, so it’s all right there for you. And as I’ve said before, I’ve come to really love pre-ordering - it helps out favorite authors and it’s like a little surprise to your future self.   Before we jump in, just remember that this is just a sampling of all the incredible books coming out this year. I’ll add some links to some other great resources in the show notes and on the website where you can find more complete listings of titles to browse through and the MGBookVillage website has a great release calendar so that’s one to bookmark for sure.   https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/111975.Middle_Grade_Novels_of_2019 http://novelnineteens.com/books/middle-grade-books https://mgbookvillage.org/2018releasedates/ http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2018/12/19-2019-middle-grade-books-to-have-on-your-radar/ https://www.readbrightly.com/middle-grade-books-2019/ https://www.bookish.com/articles/must-read-childrens-books-winter-2019/ http://www.popgoesthereader.com/target-audience-middle-grade/70-middle-grade-novels-i-cant-wait-to-read-in-2019/   Also - publication dates do occasionally change, so just be aware of that.   Alright, get your Goodreads tab open, or your library website pulled up, or your Amazon/Indiebound shopping cart ready, or ….. print out the show notes and bring it to your favorite local bookstore!   Alright - let’s get to it! The 2019 Graphic Novels This January, Lincoln Peirce, the author of Big Nate, has a new graphic/illustrated novel series set in the middle ages called Max and the Midknights that looks really, really cute. Also out on January 8th is Click by Kayla Miller - the story of 5th grader Olive who is having some trouble finding where she “clicks” in middle school. The sequel, called Camp, is being released this April so fans won’t have to wait long for the next one. A fantasy graphic novel that Mel Schuit recommended that I check out is The Chancellor and the Citadel by Maria Capelle Frantz so that’s on my radar now - and yours! Thank you, Mel! On January 29th another Hilo is coming our way! Hilo 5: Then Everything Went Wrong. And on that same day the 5th Bird & Squirrel is coming out called All Tangled Up. One graphic novel adaptation that has really piqued my interest is Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Retelling of Little Women by Rey Tercerio and illustrator Bre Indigo. The classic is reimagined as a blended family living in modern-day New York City. I don’t think I’ve ever hit “pre-order” faster and will be eagerly stalking my delivery person on February 5th for that one! My mailbox is going to be brimming on February 5th because I also HAD to preorder New Kid by Jerry Craft!  It’s about seventh grader Jordan Banks who loves drawing cartoons and dreams of going to art school. But his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school instead, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. Looks amazing!!  90-Second Newbery was singing its praises on Twitter last night and said this about it: “The amazing graphic novel New Kid by @JerryCraft should definitely be on everyone's tbr list and it has a full-cast (and all-star cast) audiobook released at the same time….perfect for rich, nuanced convos abt race, class, identity, school systems, how we share books, code switching, starting new school, just so much!”   So, yeah… I’ll just wait here for a bit while you hit pause and go order that! We also get  the second Wings of Fire graphic novel, The Lost Heir, on February 26th AND the second Mr. Wolf’s Class book called Mystery Club. And a heads up that the graphic novel of The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire Book 3) is out in October 2019. For those Minecraft fans in your life, this March we get another Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior graphic novel - Forging Destiny. And for older middle grade kids - maybe 11 or 12 and up -  look for the new graphic novel adaptations of The Iliad and The Odyssey this March as well. And fans of Terri Libenson’s Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzie will want to get their hands on Just Jaime - coming out May7th. There were lots of smiles among my students today when I told them that news! Bad Guys #9 - The Bad Guys in the Big Bad Wolf is out June 25th.  Perfect launch for a fun summer read. This August brings us Best Friends, the sequel to Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s Real Friends -  out on August 27th. And have you seen the cover? It’s Shannon at the top of a rollercoaster with this vibrant purple background. Love it, love it, love it! And Dog Man fans (like my daughter) will be psyched this August because we are getting Dog Man #7: For Whom the Ball Rolls! The seventh graphic novel adaptation of the Baby-sitters Club, Boy Crazy Stacey, illustrated by Gale Carrigan, will be out September 3rd. That’s one of those no-brainer preorders for my classroom library. Also - I was interested to hear that R.J. Palacio is publishing her first graphic novel Wonder story this fall called White Bird. This one is Julian’s grandmother’s story about her life as a young Jewish girl hidden away by a family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. So be on the lookout for that one September 3rd as well. You want another don’t-even-have-to-think-about-it-just-preorder-it graphic novel? Guts - the long-awaited new Raina Telgemeier graphic memoir is out September 17th!! September also brings the latest from Tillie Walden - Are You Listening.  The peeks I’ve seen of that online look incredible, so that one is definitely on my radar this fall. And then….….. Drumroll please…… Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl!! Ahhhh!!  I knew it! That last page in Mighty Jack and the Goblin King was just too good not to be followed up with a joint adventure. Yay! Jen Wang -  author of last year’s hit, The Prince & the Dressmaker, has a new graphic novel coming out in September called  Stargazing. This one draws on her personal experiences and is the story of two friends - Moon and Christine. And this November we’ll get The Midwinter Witch - the third and final book in the trilogy that includes The Witch Boy and The Hidden Witch. And - wow, I’m just going to start saving up now for September because the graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover is also coming out on September 24th!  It’s going to be a pancakes and ramen noodles for dinner kind of a month if I want to keep up with all these awesome books coming out!  (And I haven’t even gotten past the graphic novels!) And…. I think, maybe, possibly.. that Amulet #9 (the final one of the series) will be released late this year. But I can’t find much info on it. No title, no date, no synopsis - nada! So, I’m cautiously optimistic that it will arrive in 2019. Finally - another graphic novel to be on the lookout for later in 2019 is Twins by author Varian Johnson who you may know from The Parker Inheritance and illustrator Shannon Wright. The publication date isn’t yet announced, but apparently it’s about twin sisters struggling to figure out individual identities in middle school and it’s based on Johnson’s own childhood experiences as a twin. New Releases from 2017 / 2018 Debut Authors   Early February brings us the second in Anna Meriano’s Love, Sugar, Magic series called A Sprinkle of Spirits and oh is that cover gorgeous! And definitely snag a copy of the sequel to Jarrett Lerner’s EngiNerds - Revenge of the EngiNerds out on February 19th. It is EVEN FUNNIER than the first one. And that’s saying something! Another book I’m looking forward to is Jen Petro-Roy’s Good Enough - about a young girl with an eating disorder. Game of Stars by Sayantani DasGupta - the follow up to The Serpent’s Secret is out on February 26th. And the end of February also brings us Bone Hollow  by Skeleton Tree author Kim Ventrella. Also be on the lookout for The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras on March 5th. That sequel is getting rave reviews so it’s definitely one to add to your library. Alyson Gerber, author of Braced, will have a new novel out called Focused. It’s about a middle school girl who loves chess and has been recently diagnosed with ADHD. Definitely a book a lot of my students will be able to connect with! In the last week of April we get the sequel to Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time called Aru Shah and Song of Death This April brings us the second novel from Rebecca Donnelly called The Friendship Lie. One book I’m excited to dip into this spring is Up for Air by Laurie Morrison. You might know her from last year’s Every Shiny Thing. From the author of 2017’s The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora and 2018’s Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish comes Each Tiny Spark. This is Pablo Cartaya’s third MG novel and this one features a young girl, a father recently returned from deployment, and… welding. So look for that one in August. And The Cryptid Keeper, the sequel to Lija Fisher’s 2018 The Cryptid Catcher is out this August as is Melissa Sarno’s A Swirl of Ocean. In September comes the sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling. It’s called Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus and follows Aven’s adventures as she heads into high school. At first I thought that might put it in the YA category, but from what I can tell, it’s still middle grade. This fall we’ll also be treated to Abby Cooper’s third novel - Friend or Fiction. Just like Sticks and Stones and Bubbles, this one is also magical realism. It’s about a girl named Jade. In the pages of her notebook, she writes all about Zoe--the most amazing best friend anyone could dream of. But when pretend Zoe appears in real life thanks to a magical experiment gone right, Jade isn't so sure if she likes sharing her imaginary friend with the real world.   Another treat in store for you this fall is the third novel by Elly Swartz - Give and Take. This book is about 12 year-old Maggie whose grandmother’s recent death has triggered her to start hoarding things under her bed. 2019 Debut Authors   So - I’ll just say right now that I could have had an ENTIRE show just dedicated to the amazing middle grade debuts coming our way this year but at some point, I had to cut myself off.  So - I’ll include a link to the Novel19s website where you find many more middle grade debuts and discover some of your new favorite authors.   The Whisperers is Greg Howard’s middle grade debut and one that has really caught my eye. Just listen to this description: “Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the whispers, magical fairies that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his 8th grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home.” Oooo…. This one is out January 15th. If you are looking for a new book for younger middle grade readers - something along the lines of Ramona Quimby or Stella Diaz - check out Meena Meets Her Match by Karla Manternatch. One book that keeps popping up into my radar is the middle grade debut of Padma Venkatraman called The Bridge Home about four children who discover strength and grit and family while dealing with homelessness. That one comes out Feb 5th so be on the lookout for that one. Another debut that I have been dying to read is The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo!  Let me just read you the teaser: “Born in a dismal room in a pet store, Alastair the African grey parrot dreams of escape to bluer skies. He’d like nothing more than to fly away to a palm tree with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land.”  My step-mother had parrots when I was growing up, so this one in particular I really am interested in reading! So I’ll be checking my mailbox for that one on February 12th. Another debut I am excited to read this year is Joshua Levy’s Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy! Since one of my goals this year is to introduce my students to more science fiction, a story about a school on a spaceship orbiting Jupiter would be perfect! On March 12 we get Lisa Moore Ramée’s debut A Good Kind of Trouble about a girl who just wants to follow the rules. And sometime this spring we get rather the opposite in Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen by Niki Lenz. This one is about a “bully” who ends up living with her aunt who is a nun and tries to turn over a new leaf. This March is the debut of Julia Nobel with The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane about a girl who gets shipped off to a British boarding school and finds a box of medallions that might just be connected to the disappearance of her father. A graphic novel debut coming in March that looks fabulous is Red Panda & Moon Bear by Jarod Roselló. It’s about two Latinx kids who defend their neighborhood from threats both natural and supernatural. And in late April is the first book in a new MG detective series called Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna Holyoak and a time-traveling action adventure that will transport readers to ancient Egypt called Jagger Jones & the Mummy’s Ankh by Malayna Evans. Hurricane Season by debut author Nicole Melleby comes out May 7th and oh how do I want to read this novel!  On a recent #MGLitChat focused on the 2019 debut authors, the moderator asked, “What do you hope young readers take away from your book?”  And Nicole Melleby said the following, “ I want them to take away that they’re not alone, that they’re seen, that mental illness is hard but manageable, and that love may have its limits, but help comes in all shapes and sizes. Also that Van Gogh was a brilliant man.”  After reading Vincent & Theo last summer - uhhh…. gimme that book!! Another great middle grade debut to look for on May 7th is Just South of Home by Karen Stong which is described as Blackish meets Goosebumps. The story follows a rule-abiding girl who must team up with her trouble making cousin, goofy younger brother, and his best friend to unravel a mysterious haunting in their tiny Southern town. Also coming this spring is a book that I immediately knew I wanted to read. It’s called Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos. (So, I was pretty much ALREADY sold by the Bowie reference.) The book follows Nova, an autistic, nonverbal, space-obsessed 12-year-old who is awaiting the Challenger shuttle launch and the return of her big sister, Bridget, as she struggles to be understood by her new foster family.  I was a 4th grader when The Challenger Disaster happened and vividly remember watching it happen live on tv, so I am really interested to see how that plays out in this book. Another debut to look for early this summer is All of Me by Chris Baron - a novel in verse about a 13 year old boy who is dealing with a big move, struggles in his parents’ marriage, and his own body image issues. So… if you are a close listener, you have probably figured out that I’m a sucker for books involving baking or cooking.  Maybe that’s why Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca just leapt out at me when I stumbled across it last month. This is a contemporary-fantasy retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream about an 11 year old Indian American girl whose father is a food writer and whose mother is a successful businesswoman. But when she adds some rather…. unusual (and maybe magical?) ingredients to her baking, things get out of hand. So look for that one on June 4th. And if your kids are looking for a fun spooky read this summer, Ollie Oxley and the Ghost comes out on June 18th and looks really cute. It’s about a boy who moves to California and ends up becoming friends with a ghost from the Gold Rush era. Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega is another paranormal middle grade coming this September and it’s described as Coco meets Stranger Things. So, uh… yeah...gimme that for sure! Also coming out this September is The Light in the Lake by Sarah Baughman - a book about a young girl who finds herself caught between her love of science and her late twin brother's belief in magic. Sequels and Favorite Series This January 29th we’re getting two awesome books: a 4th in the Crime Biters series - Fangs for Everything AND I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis.  And watching out for another I Survived book in September called I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919. Also in 2019 we are getting not one but TWO new Babysitting Nightmares books! The Phantom Hour this January 29th and The Twilight Curse on August 20th. February 5th brings another Stick Dog book - Stick Dog Gets the Tacos AND the third Frazzled book by Booki Vivat! This one is called Minor Incidents and Absolute Uncertainties. I just love her titles! In late February kids will be getting book 4 in the DC Comics Secret Hero Society - Science Fair Crisis! Lion Down by Stuart Gibb is out on February 26th. The second in his FunJungle series and the follow up to Panda-monium.) In March comes book five in The School for Good & Evil series: A Crystal of Time , a new Emily Windsnap novel called Emily Windsnap and The Pirate Prince, and another in the Fairy Tale Reform School series called Wished. In March we also get a seventh Jedi Academy Book called Revenge of the Sis. This one starts a new storyline and is written by Amy Ignatow with Jarret Krosoczka illustrating. And an as yet untitled 8th Jedi Academy novel is scheduled for September 2019. AND I’m really excited for the third BAT book: Bat and the End of Everything by Elana K. Arnold.  My daughter’s 4th grade class read the first book and they - of course! - fell hard for this series! Jeff Kinney fans will be excited about Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid - a book told from Rowley’s point of view that is out this April. And that month also brings us another Unicorn Rescue Society novel - The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande. And my 9 year old is going to be thrilled when I tell her that Katherine Applegate’s sequel to The Endling is coming out May 7th. It’s called Endling: The First and is already in my cart. The second book in Laura Ruby’s York series - The Clockwork Ghost is also headed our way this May and so is Another Fenway & Hattie book - In the Wild! Natalie Lloyd’s sequel to The Problim Children - Carnival Catastrophe is due to be out June 25th. And not quite a sequel but more of a spin-off, is Dough Boys by Paula Chase - author of 2018’s So Done. Characters Simp and Rollie are the leads in this novel told in two voices. Also - Karina Yan Glaser’s third Vanderbeekers novel is coming this September - The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue! And finally - just announced this morning - is Kate DiCamillo’s new novel coming September 24th - Beverly, Right Here. And if you guessed that this is the Beverly from Raymie Nightingale - then you are correct!  So now each of the three girls will have their own novel. By the way - if you haven’t seen it yet, the cover by Amy June Bates is stunning!!     2019 New Releases from Established Authors   First up here is the book I am devouring right now - The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart which just came out on January 8th. And oh…. does this book live up to its hype! Brace yourself to hear lots more about this one later! Also out this January is a book my friend Sandy has been raving about - The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, U.S.A by Coretta Scott King honor nominee Brenda Woods. So I definitely need to add that one to my TBR list. This January readers will get a new Gordon Korman novel - Unteachables AND a new Andrew Clements novel - The Friendship War. January also brings us the first book in the really incredible Rick Riordan Presents Imprint - Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee. This is a space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. (By the way - if you have kids who love Rick Riordan’s novels or who love adventure books with a dash of humor and myth - then check out his Imprint site. I’ll include a link in the show notes so you can check them all out. From those lucky enough to read advanced copies, I haven’t heard anything but praise.) Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas by Andrea Pyros is one to watch out for this February. And another upper middle grade February release that caught my attention is a joint novel told in letters by Counting by 7s author Holly Goldberg Sloan and The Interestings author Meg Wolitzer. It’s called To Night Owl from Dogfish and it’s about two very different 12 year-old girls named Averie and Bett who are sent off to the same sleepaway camp in order to bond after their single dads fall in love with each other. February also bring us another novel by Anne Urso (author of the critically acclaimed The Real Boy) This novel, The Lost Girl, is about identical twins Lark and Iris.   On March 5th we get another Lisa Graff novel called Far Away about a girl, CJ, whose aunt is a psychic medium who claims that she carries messages from the dead. And I’m really psyched for We’re Not From Here by Tapper Twins author Geoff Rodkey. This novel is also out March 5th and is about refugees from planet Earth who need to find a new home on a faraway planet. I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this one and it’s quirky and hilarious… and timely. Definitely add this one to your pre orders. March also brings us another Rick Riordan Present’s book called Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez. I’ve been hearing lots of great buzz about this one, so I’ll definitely need to pre-order a copy. On March 19th we get a new Kevin Henkes novel called Sweeping Up the Heart and this one is the story of the spring break that changes seventh-grader Amelia Albright’s life forever. In late March Natalie Lloyd fans will be treated to Over the Moon - a story about twelve-year-old Mallie who lives in a mining town where boys leave school at 12 to work in the mines, and girls leave to work as servants for the wealthy. But of course with that quintessentially Lloyd magic interwoven. And another Cynthia Lord book is coming out this March! She is the author of Rules and A Handful of Stars. This one is titled Because of the Rabbit and is about a young girl who starts public school for the first time after being homeschooled. Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles is coming out April 2nd and a really interesting looking book called Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway will be released April 16th. It’s about a girl who has to save her aunt’s pie shop. I think this one would be  a winner for kids who enjoy shows like The Great British Baking Show. In early May, we get to read Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s next novel, Shouting at the Rain about a girl named Delsie who lives with her grandmother, loves tracking weather, and who starts to wish for a more “regular” family and life. You can’t go wrong with the author of Fish in a Tree and One for the Murphys so… just pop this one in your cart now! And another novel that is getting all kinds of early buzz is the latest from K.A. Reynolds called Spinner of Dreams. It’s being called “inventive, empathetic, and strange in all the best ways.”  Plus - it has a really otherworldly cover that I just want to stare at... And finally - I know you all have heard me rave about this one before - but Barbara Dee’s Maybe He Just Likes You is going to be AMAZING!  My students and I got the chance to read the first chapter and we were all already hooked. But let me give you a little taste from the teaser: “For seventh grader Mila, it starts with an unwanted hug on the school blacktop. The next day, it’s another hug. A smirk. Comments. It all feels…weird. According to her friend Zara, Mila is being immature, overreacting. Doesn’t she know what flirting looks like? They don’t understand why Mila is making such a big deal about the boys’ attention. When Mila is finally pushed too far, she realizes she can’t battle this on her own–and finds help in some unexpected places.” I can’t WAIT!!   Phew!!  Alright - I am both energized and - I gotta be honest - a little daunted! But - I am reminding myself and I hope you’ll remember too that it’s not about a mad dash to read all of these books. But to give you a taste of what’s to come so you can match readers with books they might like and get them excited about new releases.   I hope you have a wonderful year reading and I would love to know - what are the books that you and your students are most looking forward to in 2019?   You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or jump into the conversation on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.      Closing   Thank you so much for joining me this week.  You can find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org.   And, if you have an extra minute this week, reviews on iTunes or Stitcher are much appreciated.   Books Between is a proud member of the Lady Pod Squad and the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com   Talk with you soon!  Bye!  

Director Dean Devlin Writers/Co-creator/Co-Executive Producers: Chris Downey and John Rogers Aired February 17th and 24th 2009 The team, in their infinite wisdom, decide that what Nate really needs to get over his alcoholism is to get revenge on the man who denied the coverage that would have paid for treatment that could have saved his son’s life. Things...do not go to plan. I’m with Lisa Lin and Tara Kennedy again to talk about our season one finales! Thanks so much for joining on this journey so far, proving that bad guys really do make the best good guys sometimes! Books we talked about this week: The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17928557-the-great-greene-heist?ac=1&from_search=true The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World by Anthony M. Amore https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23014716-the-art-of-the-con?ac=1&from_search=true A Lot Like Love by Julie James https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8419428-a-lot-like-love?ac=1&from_search=true Thanks to the creators of Leverage- Chris Downey and John Rogers. And as always, my gratitude goes out to artist Rebecca Mock who inspired this podcast. Check out her patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/rebeccamock music by bensounds.com

Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who loves middle grade books.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two girls and a 5th grade teacher in Central New York. I believe in the power of books to help us see each other more clearly.  And my goal is to help you find fabulous books for the tweens in your life and help create a community where we all can support each other as we build those readers. This is Episode #48 and today I’m discussing how to support readers with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and then I’ll share with you a conversation with Varian Johnson - author of The Parker Inheritance. A few quick announcements before we dive in today - the Middle Grade at Heart Book Club Twitter chat about The Parker Inheritance is Tuesday, May 1st (tomorrow!) at 5pm PT / 8PM ET. Just search for the hashtag #mgbookclub and jump into the conversation. Varian will be participating so if you have a question you want to ask him, here’s your chance!  Also, the May MG at Heart Book Club pick is Every Shiny Thing by Laurie Morrison and Cordelia Jensen and in June we’ll be reading The Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras. And - we at MGBookVillage have some exciting news to tell you! We will be spending the month of May honoring educators! Over the next few weeks we’ll share posts and interviews with inspiring teachers, literacy specialists, principals, and all those who work to create passionate middle grade readers. We’re also excited to host four educator-focused Twitter chats every Monday evening this May at 9pm EST with topics like Fictional Teachers and Connecting with Authors - so head to MGBookVillage.org for all the details and to stay up-to-date on all things middle grade. You can also find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of this show at MGBookVillage.org - including links to every topic and book we mention. So definitely check that out!   Main Topic - Supporting Students w/ Adverse Childhood Experiences A couple months ago I had the opportunity at my school to attend a professional development session lead by my principal, Amy Horack, about ACEs - an acronym which I came to learn means “Adverse Childhood Experiences”. And it really opened my eyes to seeing the struggles many of my students have had in a new light - a new frame that helped me make sense of some of their behaviours and look for ways to support them. So today I am going to share with you a bit of what I discovered that day (and since then) with the hope that you will be inspired to learn more so we can support those students. First, I’ll share some definitions and discuss what Adverse Childhood Experiences are and how to calculate your own ACEs score. Then I’ll chat a bit about what that means for children and what impact a high ACEs score has on their health and behaviors. And then I’ll discuss some things we can do as educators and parents to be trauma-informed in our teaching and help support those kids as readers - and in all aspects of their life. Definitions and Discussion Let’s start with a definition. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that happen in childhood. These might include economic hardship, abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who struggle with mental illness or substance abuse. ACEs are highly correlated with a variety of health problems throughout a person’s life and substance abuse as a teen and adult. And also impact their opportunities and ability to learn.    In my research, I found several different studies that used a variety of indicators to calculate a person’s ACEs score. There isn’t one set list, but typically there are about 10 questions with a higher score indicating more risk for negative health effects and other impacts that we can see in the children we work with - and the adults in their lives. I am going to read off a list of situations, and I’d encourage you to first think about your own score. (Mine is three.) And think about the children you interact with. By the time they are an adult, about 67% of people will have a score of at least one. 22% will have two or more ACES, with almost 10% having scores of 3 or higher. Adverse Childhood Experiences: Have you ever lived with a parent or guardian who got divorced or separated? Has a member of your household ever died? Have you or a member of your household dealt with a life-threatening health situation or chronic disease? Have you experienced a life-threatening accident or natural disaster? Has a member of your household ever served time in jail or prison? Have you ever lived with anyone who was mentally ill or suicidal, or severely depressed for more than a couple weeks? Have you ever lived with anyone who had a problem with alcohol or drugs? Have you ever been the victim of emotional neglect in your home? (For example, you often felt that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important, or supported each other.) Have you ever been the victim of physical neglect in your home? (For example, the adults in your household didn’t provide clean clothes, meals, or take you a doctor or dentist?) Have you ever been the victim of physical abuse in your home? (For example, someone in your household who might hit, kick, bite, or throw things at you?) Have you ever been the victim of emotional abuse in your home? (For example, someone in your household who might swear at you, insult you, or humiliate you?) Have you ever been the victim of sexual abuse or unwanted touching? Have you ever witnessed physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in your home or neighborhood? Have you ever experienced extreme economic hardship where the family found it difficult to cover the costs of food and housing? Have you ever been treated or judged unfairly due to your race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity? Impacts on Adults So what does this mean? The first ACEs study conducted in 1998 and reinforced by dozens of studies afterward has found a strong link between childhood trauma and profound negative impacts on adult health like alcoholism, chronic depression, suicide attempts, trouble holding a job - and so, so much more. (I don’t want to go too far down the road of adult impacts because I really do want to focus on children, but I encourage you to take a closer look at that research. I recommended ACESConnection.com and ACESTooHigh.com.) Impacts on Children Let’s talk a bit about what the effects of ACEs looks like with kids and how to support them. As others have said, it’s about a change in mindset from “What’s wrong with this kid?” to “What happened to this kid?”  As I read this list of some of the effects on children, think about how that impacts them as readers: Antisocial behaviors and difficulty trusting others including both adults and peers (I think about how hard it can be for some readers to trust you and your recommendations, and to open up to you and the class about their thinking as they read. These are also the children I see struggling to participate well in in book clubs - who may resist sharing their feelings and being too vulnerable.) Social isolation (What comes to mind for me are those quiet, fly under the radar, submissive kids - those who curl up with a book as an escape, but not necessarily interacting with anyone else. Or those students who will submit to reading whatever you recommend but who aren’t making their own choices.) Difficulty seeking help (I absolutely see that kids who are dealing with a lot outside of school, sometimes don’t want to tell me they are having a hard time with a book. They’ll just push through thinking it’s going to make me happy. Or they just don’t have the mental energy to explain what they are struggling with as a reader.) Frequent absences, medical issues, or requests to go to the nurse / bathroom (Every one of those is just more time away from that immersive, productive reading. I’m also thinking that it’s hard to keep continuity with a book when a child is distracted by a medical issue or missing a lot of class time. I’m thinking of all the conferring they miss, to missing big chucks of the class read aloud where you are modeling strategies. And when they get back and you attempt to catch them up, now they are missing something else… I STILL have nightmares about coming back to school after a long absence and not remembering my locker combination or my schedule - it’s stressful!) Difficulty with focus and transitions (Of course, a child who is distracted by home situations and dealing with chronic stress will have difficulty selected that good book and a quiet spot to read in the time frame you are hoping for.) Trouble with organization (I’ve noticed that kids who travel back and forth between two or more households tend to lose things more often - including books. But I’ve also noticed that if a child fears consequences at home of a library fine or a note from me about a missing book, they may not want to even check out books or take them home.)   Anxiety (In thinking about students with Adverse Childhood Experiences and anxiety, I notice that some really shy away from books with heavier themes that might bring up difficult emotions. They’re the kids who want the assurance that the dog on the cover is going to make it at the end. Or may feel reticent about reading a book that will hit too close home. One the one hand, I think it’s really important to have books available where students can see that characters have dealt with similar issues to their own so they don’t feel alone. And it’s important for other students to read those books to develop some empathy and understanding. But - it’s also okay if a child doesn’t want to read something that might trigger them but instead looks to reading as an escape. So I’m thinking that having fun, light books than can provide that safe haven for students is also key and to honor those choices.) Difficulty with academic achievement (Absolutely! And since becoming a strong and competent reader is the linchpin to gathering all other knowledge - it reinforces to me that importance of focusing on reading.) Difficulty planning for the future (When a child can’t rely on stability at home, it’s no wonder that kids can’t tell me what book they’re going to read next or how they are going to schedule in their reading homework at night - sometimes they don’t know what they are coming home to! Or - more likely - they know exactly what they are going home to and it’s not a situation conducive to reading.) Trouble regulating their emotions and their affect - facial expressions - either exaggerating them or having no affect (This brings to mind a former student who would seemingly overreact to their reading - bursting out in this wild laughter or tossing the book aside in anger. And at the time, I did think “What is the matter with this kid?” But now…I can only wonder - “What was really going on with that child?”   How to Support Students with ACEs In thinking about how to support the children in our lives who have those ACEs, I think for me, starting with that mindset change was a key first step. I think it’s natural to respond to some of those situations by wanting to get worked up yourself, but I’m trying to pause and realize that it’s not personal. And find some better strategies. So, I do not, by any means, want to portray myself here as any kind of expert. And I encourage you to look at the research yourself and see what might work for you. But after doing some reading, here are some things I’m going to try: First, I want to recognize and support the resilience they already have. When I think about what some of my students have been through, I am so proud of what they are accomplishing despite the stress they may be under. So, highlighting their strengths whenever possible and help them build themselves up is something I want to focus more on. Second, since kids who have experienced trauma can often suffer from worry and have trouble regulating their emotions and actions, I want to make sure my classroom environment is as stable and calm as possible. So being more aware of my language and tone of voice and nonverbal cues - even when I’m frustrated is something I want to be more aware of. And providing a stable routine with more opportunities for movement and snack breaks. I’m really intrigued by some teachers who’ve set up what they call a Calming Station in their room with things like a comfortable chair, soft music, lavender scented play-doh, some gum, resources on meditation, and an opportunity to write about what they’re feeling. So I think I’m going to start to get together a kit to keep in my classroom.   Also, learning more about the impacts of ACEs has reinforced even more, the importance of building relationships with my students. And having more casual one-on-one conversations where I’m not asking them to comply with a direction, but I’m just asking about their interests. Which has the double benefit of helping me know them better as readers and people.  The more I think back, the more I am appalled at the advice I got as a young teacher to never smile before Christmas! Who wants to spend 8 hours a day with someone who never smiles?  These kids - and all kids - need warm, nurturing, safe, and stable relationships. And a teacher who smiles and welcomes them by name every day. I used to give a general welcome as students arrived but this year, I made the decision to make sure I welcome every kid by name within the first ten minutes of them arriving at school. And it has made a difference. And try to ask them a little something (What did you of the ending of Amulet? How was your game last night?) or notice something (The unicorn on your shirt reminds me of this new series you might like - The Unicorn Rescue Society!) And finally it reminds me to be more observant and not let things go. If something doesn’t feel right in your interactions with a child, I don’t want to let them fall through the cracks. If you notice something that warrants it, please call Child Protective Services. I’ll drop a link to some indicators and a place you can go for more information.  But, if you’ve ever had to call CPS, you know it is complicated.  I’m reminded of The Last Jedi where Luke says to Rey, “This is not going to go the way you think.” There is no quick rescue from those dark situations, but being a positive presence, helping all students develop resilience and coping strategies - or even just offering a few hours of escape - can do more than you realize. And I’ve said that learning more about how Adverse Childhood Experiences opened my eyes - but it also opened my heart to be more loving not only toward my students but also toward my colleagues - and even toward myself a bit, too. If you want to know more (and I hope you do!) - I’ve including links to several sites that will give more details and more strategies you can use to help the children (and adults!) in your life. For more information about ACEs: https://www.samhsa.gov/capt/practicing-effective-prevention/prevention-behavioral-health/adverse-childhood-experiences https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/phl/resource_center_infographic.html https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/resources.html https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Brief-adverse-childhood-experiences_FINAL.pdf https://www.weareteachers.com/10-things-about-childhood-trauma-every-teacher-needs-to-know/ https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u57/2013/child-trauma-toolkit.pdf https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/create-your-own-anti-anxiety-kit-for-children   Varian Johnson - Interview Outline Our special guest this week is Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance! We discuss his love of puzzles, his research process, favorite childhood books, and so much more!  And joining me this month to chat with Varian Johnson is one of the founders of the MG at Heart Book Club, Julie Artz.   And I got so much great feedback from you all about the last episode’s Bonus Spoiler Section at the very end of the show that we doing it again! So, if you want to hear Varian talk about the end of his novel, I put that part of our conversation after the credits so this part will be spoiler-free. Take a listen...   The Parker Inheritance CA: For our listeners who haven’t yet read the novel, can you tell us a bit about The Parker Inheritance? JA:  One of the things I love about The Parker Inheritance is how vivid the historical storyline is and how well it’s integrated into Candice & Brandon’s present-day story. Can you tell us a little bit about the research that went into writing this story? CA: Your novel had such depth and nuance and included these small but powerful scenes - like Brandon feeling uncomfortable checking out “girl books”, and his older sister explaining why she slows down to avoid any chance of getting pulled over, the assistant principal discovering Brandon and Candice doing research and asking for their ID, and then...that scene between Siobhan and Chip and Reggie with the Coca Cola.  I just loved how there were these small dips into complicated themes. I guess this isn’t a question per se but more of a thank you for helping me see and think through some of those preconceptions and biases and for writing a novel that will also do that for my students…. JA: Who is your favorite character from The Parker Inheritance? CA: One of the things I loved about Candice was her love of puzzles - and how she figured out Milo’s schedule so that Brandon could avoid him! Are you into puzzles and codes like Candice? **BONUS SPOILER SECTION found after the final credits Your Writing Life JA: The way you melded the two timelines really built a lot of page-turning tension into the story. How did you plan that out as you were writing? CA: As a writer, what were your early inspirations and what do you think teachers and parents can do to get young people writing more and writing more confidently? JA: What are you writing next? Your Reading Life CA: Did you have a teacher or librarian in your life who helped you grow into a reader? JA: I loved all the hat-tips to treasured books like The Westing Game that were sprinkled all through The Parker Inheritance. Any other childhood favorites you still love today? CA: What are some books that you’ve been reading lately? Thank You!   Links: Varian Johnson’s website - http://varianjohnson.com Varian on Twitter and Facebook Althea Gibson Mad Men Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar & Inception Books & Authors We Chatted About: The Westing Game (Ellen Raskin) Holes (Louis Sachar) Beverly Cleary Peter & Fudge Books (Judy Blume) Blubber (Judy Blume) Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret (Judy Blume) Walter Dean Myers Virginia Hamilton Bridge to Terabithia (Katherine Paterson) One Crazy Summer (Rita Williams Garcia) Once You Reach Me (Rebecca Stead) Goodbye Stranger (Rebecca Stead) Shelby Holmes Series (Elizabeth Eulberg) The Lonely Hearts Club (Elizabeth Eulberg) The Mortification of Fovea Munson (Mary Winn Heider)   Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Books Between is a proud member of the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well. Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!  

This week, we're talking with Varian Johnson, author of the new middle grade book The Parker Inheritance. Varian talks about his inspiration for the book, the research it took to dig back into his own hometown's past, and about social justice — how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Additional resources: More about The Parker Inheritance More about Varian Johnson Read the essay Varian Johnson wrote for Nerdy Book Club about his experience with police Guests: Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Spring 2018 Kids' Indie Next List pick among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

This week, we're talking with Varian Johnson, author of the new middle grade book The Parker Inheritance. Varian talks about his inspiration for the book, the research it took to dig back into his own hometown’s past, and about social justice — how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. About The Parker Inheritance: The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller. When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left Lambert in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again? Additional resources: More about The Parker Inheritance More about Varian Johnson Read the essay Varian Johnson wrote for Nerdy Book Club about his experience with police Guests: Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who loves middle grade books. I believe in the power of stories to help us realize that we are not alone in the world.  And my goal is to help you connect kids with those incredible stories and share inspiring conversations with the authors and educators who make that magic happen. I am Corrina Allen - a mom of two, a teacher of 22, and gearing up for my Spring Break next week! This is Episode #47 and today I’m sharing three books about the challenges and realities of family life, and then I’ll share with you a conversation with Jen Petro-Roy - author of P.S. I Miss You. A few quick announcements before we get started - the April Middle Grade at Heart Book Club pick is The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson and the May pick is Every Shiny Thing by Laurie Morrison and Cordelia Jensen if you want to adjust those TBR piles so you can join us. Also, if you are on Twitter, Matthew Winner and I will be guests on the upcoming #mglitchat Twitter Chat this Thursday, April 19th from 9-10pm. And we’ll be chatting about podcasting and whatever else you want to chat about! So I hope you can join us live this Thursday or check out #mglitchat afterward to see the transcript. Book Talk - Three Novels Featuring the Challenges and Realities of Family Life This week I am kicking off the show with some book talks! And the theme this week is novels featuring the challenges and realities of family life.Our three featured books this episode are Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske, The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne, and One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Kat Greene Comes Clean Our first featured MG novel this week is Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske. This is a book about a 5th grade girl, Kat, who lives in New York City with her cleaning-obsessed mother who is now a contestant on the TV game show Clean Sweep. But that’s not the only stressor in her life right now. She is still dealing with the ramifications of her parent’s divorce and her dad’s new family. Her best friend, Halle, is less-than-supportive now that she’s newly enamored with a particular boy at their school.  And, Kat did not get one of the lead roles in her school’s production of her favorite book - Harriet the Spy. She gets the blah role of the boy in the purple socks. Here are three things to love about Kat Greene Comes Clean: The complicated crush situation in this book. I won’t reveal the details because it’s a bit of a spoiler, but Kat’s best friend has an intense crush on this boy, Michael McGraw, and talks about every facet of his life constantly. And that situation takes an unexpected and awkward detour. Well, unexpected for Halle and Kat. As a teacher, I’ve seen this play out like this a bunch of times…..  yikes! How this book portrays what it’s like dealing with a family member who has OCD. Kat’s mom was laid off from her job at a magazine, went through a divorce, and her OCD has manifested itself more and more through her obsessive cleaning. I appreciated that this book acknowledged that these anxieties and disorders are often more than just one thing. And the multiple layers of impact on everyone around them. Kat’s mom scrubs the floor with an electric toothbrush, so Kat has to constantly worry about her wrath if there are crumbs anywhere. Her mom washes her hands in a very precise way over and over again, so Kat has to wait while she finishes and her mom’s attention is always diverted to the next thing she has that compulsion to clean. Even in public, her mother wipes down the cans at the grocery store before putting them in her cart, which embarasses Kat terribly! But then she starts throwing away Kat’s things from her bedroom and the impact on Kat is beyond just that embarrassment. At one point later in the novel when things have come to a head, her mother says, “I felt out of control and incredibly anxious. So I shut down.” Kat’s school psychologist - Olympia Rabinowitz. I just loved her gentle way of slowly helping Kat release herself that her mother had a problem. Early on, Olympia comes to her classroom for something like a sharing circle and later Kat writes her an email about her mom. And then deletes it. I thought that was such a truthful moment - because especially for children, sometimes even acknowledging a problem is overwhelming because the consequence of telling is often also bad. There’s a real chance that Kat could have to leave her mom and go live with her dad and his new wife and son - which she does NOT want to do! And like a lot of kids, she has an aversion to airing her family's “dirty laundry.” Plus - I loved Olympia because has jelly beans in her office and that’s always a plus. If you have a kid who likes Harriet the Spy or Kharma Khullar’s Mustache or Finding Perfect, then Melissa Roske’s Kat Green Comes Clean is a great book to introduce them to next. The Thing About Leftovers A book that I finally got a chance to read last week is The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne. This novel is about 6th grader Elizabeth “Fizzy” Russo who is struggling to navigate changing family dynamics in the aftermath of her parents’ divorce. And figuring out how to make friends at her swanky new school. The only two things that consistently provide stability and help her cope are cooking and her Aunt Liz, who helps Fizzy register for the prestigious Southern Living Cook-off and works with her to test out tons of recipes after school.  I loved every bit of this book from the first to the very last page. But, just as a small sample, here are three things to love about C.C. Payne’s The Thing About Leftovers: Have I mentioned that I am a sucker for books featuring food?  Oh my gosh - this book had me DROOLING over all the recipes that Fizzy tries out. Like lasagna and apple tart and this intriguing German dessert called Eis and Heiss (meaning ice and hot) which is a mix of cold ice cream and hot fruit sauce.  And then later, when she finds out that her mom’s boyfriend, Keene, likes her baking, she makes cake after cake - pineapple upside down and red velvet and this gorgeous purple cake with purple flowers all over it...ahhh. Oh - and this wonderful thing called Benedictine that Fizzy’s Aunt Liz makes for her when she comes over. It’s this wonderful-sounding cucumber and cream cheese spread. I NEED to try this! All the analogies and descriptions related to food. As Jarrett Lerner mentioned on a recent episode, a fabulous analogy can make your writing just sparkle. And boy does Payne fill her writing with sparkling moments. Like, “In a voice so sugary I could practically feel a cavity coming on.”  or “And if Mom was starting fresh, then that made me a kind of leftover, didn't it?", "Here's the thing about leftovers: Nobody is ever excited about them; they're just something you have to deal with."  and here’s one of my favorites from page 190. Her friendships with Zach and Miyoko. Zack is a boy who Fizzy’s mom describes as “slick” but who you realize is coping with his own “stuff” by telling adults what they want to hear - and then doing what he wants to do. And then Miyoko - who does exactly what the perhaps over-protective adults in her life want her to - from getting straight A’s to going to bed at 10 - even when she’s having a sleepover!  But who stands up for things when it really matters. I really enjoyed Fizzy and Miyoko and Zach‘s supportive friendship with each other. C.C. Payne’s The Things About Leftovers is so well-written - a bittersweet mix of heartbreaking and heartfelt and humourous, and with an ending that is both honest and hopeful. As a kid who went through some very similar family dynamics, I think this book is a must-have for your collection. And I’m really looking forward to seeing more from C.C. Payne! One for the Murphys Our third book featured this week is One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  This is one of those books that got past me and when some friends found out I hadn’t read it yet they basically staged an intervention and forced me to! And oh am I glad they did!! They were so right - this book is incredible! So for the few of you who haven’t read it yet (it seems like I was the last one!), One for the Murphys is about 12 year-old Carley who grew up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving but neglectful mother. She’s a tough kid. But when a violent incident with her step-father leads to Carley’s placement in foster care with the Murphys, it gets harder for Carley to convince herself that she is not worthy of their love.  Here are three things to love about One for the Murphys: The slow, skillful reveal about Carley’s previous life and what happened to land her in foster care. Hunt does not come right out and tell you, but drops a trail of memories. Like learning that Carley used to “go shopping” for her family by diving into Goodwill dumpsters while her mom played lookout. Or when she asks Mrs. Murphy if the lasagna she has planned for dinner is Stouffers or the store brand. Or when she’s shocked that Mrs. Murphy can calm herself down, because her own mother could never do that. Or the times Carley reveals she had to sleep in the bathtub… It just reminds us that a lot of kids - the angry ones, the quiet ones - have those types of stories that if we knew them, would explain so much. Mrs. Murphy! This woman, who has her own stories, is incredible at understanding Carley and being patient with her as the family adjusts. There’s this powerful scene at a restaurant after Mrs. Murphy has just taken Carley clothes shopping and Carley, probably feeling overwhelmed, starts lashing out at the server, at the food, at her, at herself. Let me read you this one section from page 25.   All the little things. I can’t pin it down to just one, but… the giraffe stuffed animal, and Tori’s love of the musical Wicked, and her razzing Mr. Murphy about the Red Sox, and all the Murphy boys - Daniel, and Adam, and especially little Michael Eric. And the sign in Carley’s bedroom… The last three chapters of this book - whoa. Prepare to finish this novel in a location where you can cry. And yes, it’s a tear-jerker at the end, but the tears are about the hope as much as they are about the other things that happen. So please don’t let the fact that you might cry dissuade you from reading this book! It’s… earned them. I almost feel like, Carley (and the kids like Carley) deserved that emotion at the end. One for the Murphys is for all the Carley’s in the world, and for all the kids and adults who need a way to see past the hardened front of children like Carley. If you want to instantly boost the quality of connections your kids can find in your classroom library or your collection, get these three books! They each offer much-needed perspectives for families experiencing divorce, mental illness, the foster care system, and a lot more and told with warmth and lightness and humor!   Jen Petro-Roy - Interview Outline Our special guest this week is Jen Petro-Roy, author of P.S. I Miss You. We discuss the role of sensitivity readers, the challenges of writing a novel told all in letters, her favorite board game, and of course - her debut novel! Take a listen... P.S. I Miss You For our listeners who haven’t yet read P.S. I Miss You, what is this story about? One of the things I really appreciated about this story was that it deals with issues that many, many kids are experiencing - like an older sibling’s pregnancy, religious questioning, and Evie slowly starting to realize she may have romantic feelings for her friend, June. I love that kids have your age-appropriate story so they can either see themselves reflected in the characters (and feel like they are not alone) or start to develop some awareness of what their peers are going through. What was your thought process like as you were including those elements of your story? I saw you mention that you used a sensitivity reader. I am so curious about that process - can you tell us what that was like, how you connected with them, and how their advice may have enhanced your story? On a personal note - I just want to thank you soo much for including a positive portrayal of an unapologetically atheist family.  I was formerly very Catholic but we are now a non-religious family and it was so refreshing to FINALLY see a character like June who is happy, well-adjusted, and also non-religious. … So, thank you!! Even though there are some weightier themes, your novel includes such laughter and light - and the references to Fish in a Tree, and Harry Potter, and Beauty & the Beast and the movie Grease… How did you balance those aspects of Evie’s life? So…. I want to talk about the ending. But… I don’t want to reveal the ending! NOTE: Jen and I discussed the ending of the novel, and if you’d like to hear that conversation, I moved that part of the recording to after the end credits of today’s episode at the 45:35 mark. What’s your favorite board game? Your Writing Life As a novel told all in letters - what kind of challenges did that format create for you? What are you working on now? Your Reading Life One of the goals of this podcast is to help educators and librarians inspire kids to read more and connect them with amazing books. Did you have a special teacher or librarian in your life who helped you grow into a reader? You’ve said that reading The Babysitters Club as a child made you into the reader and writer you are today…. Are you more Kristy, MaryAnne, Claudia, or  Stacey? What are you reading now? Thank You! Links: Jen Petro Roy’s  gorgeous website - https://www.jenpetroroy.com Jen on Twitter and Instagram Danika Corrall’s website - https://www.danikacorrall.com/work Photosynthesis Board Game   Books & Authors We Chatted About: The Baby-Sitters Club (Ann M. Martin) The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade (Jordan Sonnenblick) Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie (Jordan Sonnenblick) Not If I Save You First (Ally Carter) Gallagher Girls (Ally Carter) Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Books Between is a proud member of the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well. Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!  

Intro Hi everyone and welcome to the Books Between Podcast! I believe in the power of stories to brighten our world and spark change within ourselves.  My goal is to help you connect kids with those amazing stories and share inspiring conversations with the authors and educators who make that magic happen. I am Corrina Allen - a mom of two tween girls, a 5th grade teacher, and surrounded by slime. Oh. My. God. There is no escaping this stuff - it’s like a preteen version of The Blob with sparkles and glitter and sequins and now - foams beads! This is Episode #46 and today I’m sharing three books featuring the magical power of dogs, and then I’ll share with you a conversation with Karina Yan Glaser - author of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street! Two quick announcements before we get started - the MG at Heart Twitter chat about  The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street is tomorrow night - Tuesday, April 3rd at 8pm EST using the hashtag #MGBookClub. And if you want to get ahead with your reading, the April Middle Grade at Heart Book Club pick is The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson and the May pick is Every Shiny Thing by Laurie Morrison and Cordelia Jensen. I was excited to have Laurie join me today to interview Karina and can’t wait to have her back to discuss her own debut. Book Talk - Three Novels Featuring the Special Magic of Dogs In this section of the show, I share with you a few books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book.  This week I’ll be talking about three awesome middle grade novels about separation, unlikely friendships, and the special magic of dogs. Now I will admit up front that am not a huge dog person. I mean - a well-trained dog is an amazing pet, and I love visiting with my friend’s dogs but I am more than okay with not having one of my own. But these three books hit me hard - and if YOU love dogs, they will wend their way into your heart even more. The books this week are Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart, Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly, and Granted by John David Anderson. Good Dog First up -  Good Dog! Just….wow - Dan Gemeinhart hits another one out of the park! He is already a favorite author of so many of my students, and I’m glad to have another title to recommend after they have finished Scar Island or Some Kind of Courage or especially - The Honest Truth. This novel has a slightly different feel than his previous books. It is told from the point of view of Brodie - a dog who we meet just after he’s entered the great beyond after his death. And as our Brodie figures out the rules of this new place, and makes some friends, he remembers more of his past life on Earth. And remembers the danger that his boy, Aidan, is still in. And Brodie has to decide whether to move on to that ultimate Forever or if saving his boy from that threat is worth the awful price he’ll have to pay to even attempt helping him. Here are three things to love about Good Dog: The afterlife concept in this book. So - I don’t believe in life after death, but if it existed - I would hope it’s like this one. Going to an in-between place, a passing-through place where peace will rise up to you through your remembering as the goodness in you shakes off the last bits of darkness and sadness until you can move on to that final Forever. Tuck. I loved this dog - this sweet can’t-stand-still, can’t-be-quiet, always-running heart of gold black pit bull who was a good dog - even when it was hard. This dog who maybe - sort of - sold a bit of his soul for a French Fry. (Hey, I can relate!) It’s hard to explain how much I came to love this book without giving away a major spoiler. And I had prided myself on the fact that even though others had warned me to have tissues handy, I was fine... no tears, just FINE. Until page 285 when I learned that tiny but significant detail about the narrator that had me a sobbing wreck and needing to reread the entire thing! Hello, Universe The second book I want to tell you about this week is the 2018 Newbery Award winner - Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. This one has a special place in my heart because it’s a novel that my daughters and I experienced together. We listened to the audio book throughout December and January and grew so attached to - well, I was going to say, to all the characters in the book, but I’ll say all but one. Hello, Universe is a quietly powerful story told from the point of view of four children. Virgil Salinas, a shy and quiet boy who longs to be recognized as more than just the “turtle” of his family. And who wants to be friends with Valencia - the girl in his special needs class at school. His close friend is Kaori Tanaka who has this physic business for kids and who places a lot of stock in signs and horoscopes and telling fortunes and the concept of Fate. And the final of the main trio is Valencia Somerset, who loves nature and adventure and who is also deaf. She and Virgil attend the same school but haven’t really met. However, they’ve both met Chet Bullens - the school bully. The entire story takes place over the course of one day when at various times, all four children end up in the woods near their school. And one of them falls in an abandoned well. Here are three things to love about Hello, Universe. The blend of the mystical and the modern intertwined with Filipino folktales that really show the power of those stories across generations. And how those archetypes of heroes can inspire us to our bravery. Or as Virgil’s grandmother says, to discovering your inner “bayani” - your inner “hero”. Valencia! She was my favorite character - wise and clever and stubborn - and so attuned to others’ reactions to her deafness. Someone pointed out that hers is the only point of view told in the first person so maybe that’s why I identified so much with her. It’s a tiny moment but when she describes sneaking tupperware bowls of food into the woods to feed this poor stray dog, and how she never remembers to return them….. I felt like the author captured something so real there. I remember taking my mother’s measuring cups and spoons out to play in the dirt until suddenly we had none left. And there was this one summer where I fed this stray cat in our neighborhood for weeks...one can of tuna fish every day. I felt like there was something very true to preteens about that mix of compassion and cluelessness. The role of the dog in this book. Like I mentioned, Valencia has befriended this stray dog who lives in the woods. And he doesn’t play a huge part in the story - at first - but his role is crucial in surprising ways later on. He didn’t turn up when I thought he might. But I felt as though he could have known Brodie and Tuck from Good Dog. If you have kids who are looking for a fast-paced, action-filled novel, Hello, Universe isn’t that book. But it has wit and warmth and philosophical depth explored through really relatable and unique characters. I just loved it! Granted And the final book I want to talk about this week is Granted by John David Anderson. You probably know him from the incredible Ms. Bixby’s Last Day and Posted. Both of those novels were realistic fiction, male protagonists, with stories centered around school. Granted is totally different - it’s about a fairy named Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets. One of the dwindlingly few fairies in the Haven entrusted with the job of Granter - a fairy who ventures out of their safe community and into the dangerous human world to grant a wish. So - everyday, people wish on stars, or candles or wishbones - and each of those wishes (if they follow the rules) are entered into a lottery of sorts. But in the fairies’ world - their magic has been decreasing and the number of wishes they can grant has plummeted to the point where on Ophelia’s first day on the job only a handful are scheduled to be granted. So she has two problems on her mind - is the wish-granting system they’ve always followed breaking down and if so, what can they do to fix it? And… how to complete her mission to grant one lucky 13 year-old girl’s wish for a purple bike. All Ophelia has to do is fly to Ohio and find the nickel the girl used for her wish. But what should be a routine mission turn into this epic quest that has Ophelia questioning so much of, well - what she took for granted. Here are three things to love about Granted: The fairies’ names! They receive their middle name first - which comes from the plant where they were born. (Like Rose or Oak or Daffodil). Their last name is given by their Founder - the fairy who discovers the newborn sprite and oversees their early care and adds a name that expresses something about their personality. (Like Fidgets or Crier). And their first name is completely random. So you get names like our protagonist Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, her best friend Charlie Rhododendron Whistler, May Rose Crier,  or...Gus Fothergilla Gaspasser! Sam!  The mangy, smelly golden-haired mutt who after first wanting to eat then chew then chase Ophelia, offers to help her track down the wish she must grant. And.. maybe get to eat some donuts along the way. Ophelia is definitely NOT into this arrangement. Their conversations are HILARIOUS!   Ophelia’s song. So - every fairy has a magical song that they can sing for a particular effect- perhaps enchanting the listener or having a more negative effect. And while most fairies opt for a traditional tune like “Greensleeves” or “Rolling in the Dew” or maybe even a Sinatra song, Ophelia’s song is….  oh I so want to tell you what it is! But you just have to read it! Let’s just say, it’s something more….modern! Granted and Good Dog, and Hello, Universe are three books that will cast a magical spell on your heart.   Karina Yan Glaser - Interview Outline Joining me this month for our Middle Grade at Heart interview with Karina Yan Glaser is author Laurie Morrison. We got an opportunity to sit down together last month to chat about brownstones, balancing your reading life, and of course - The Vanderbeekers! Take a listen... The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street CA: Can you tell us what this story is about? LM: I love that the book is so balanced between the Vanderbeekers and has five equally developed main characters. Was one of the kids especially challenging or especially fun for you to write? Do you have any advice for other writers who are working on stories with ensemble casts? CA: One of the things that made me fall so hard for this book was that vibrant Harlem, New York setting with Castleman’s Bakery and the brownstones and City College in the background…  Was the Vanderbeeker’s neighborhood modeled after your own? LM: I’ve seen many readers comment that the book feels classic or timeless or old-fashioned. What do you think it is about the book that makes it feel classic to readers? LM: I noticed that you created the wonderful illustrations inside the book. How did you decide to include those, and were they always a part of the manuscript? CA: I noticed that you have an adorable bunny! Can she do tricks like Paganini? Your Writing Life LM: I’m so excited that there are two more Vanderbeekers stories on the way! Did you always know there would be more than one book, and what has it been like to write more Vanderbeeker adventures? LM: I know you’re a contributing editor at Book Riot and write a weekly newsletter. That must mean you do a lot of reading and a lot of writing outside of your fiction! How do you balance those different kinds of book-related work? Your Reading Life Sometimes it only takes that one adult in a kid’s life to influence them as a reader - either in a positive way to spur them on and spark that passion in them, or sometimes to squelch it. CA: Was there an adult in your life who impacted you as a reader? LM: I think The Vanderebeekers of 141st Street would be a fabulous book to read aloud to kids. Do you have any favorite books to read aloud to your own kids or kids you’ve worked with in the past? CA: What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked?   Links: Karina’s website - http://www.karinaglaser.com Karina on Twitter and Instagram BookRiot’s Children’s Section Books & Authors We Chatted About: Charles Darwin’s Around the World Adventure (Jennifer Thermes) Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail (Jennifer Thermes) The Penderwicks at Last (Jeanne Birdsall) Tuck Everlasting (Natalie Babbitt) See You in the Cosmos (Jack Cheng) Ginger Pye (Eleanor Estes) The Moffats (Eleanor Estes) The Hundred Dresses (Eleanor Estes) The Land (Mildred T. Taylor) Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry (Mildred T. Taylor) Every Shiny Thing (Laurie Morrison & Cordelia Jensen) They Say Blue (Jillian Tamaki) Front Desk (Kelly Yang) The Right Hook of Devin Velma (Jake Burt) Greetings From Witness Protection (Jake Burt) Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. And - if you are wanting more discussion focused on middle grade, check out the new podcast called Lifelines: Books That Bridge the Divide hosted by authors Ann Braden and Saadia Faruqi. I’ll drop a link to their first two episodes in our show notes, and I am really excited to see more middle grade podcasts out there. Books Between is a proud member of the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well. Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!  

Intro Hi everyone and welcome to the Books Between Podcast! I believe in the power of stories to connect us to others in our world.  My goal is to help you connect kids with incredible books and share inspiring conversations with the authors and educators who make that magic happen.  Every other Monday, I bring you book talks, interviews, and ideas for getting great books into the hands of kids between 8-12. I am Corrina Allen - a mom of an 8 and 10 year old, a 5th grade teacher, and now making multiple visits to the orthodontist for both of my daughters. Farewell popcorn and hello palate expanders! This is Episode #45 and Today I’m discussing some ideas to make your read alouds even better and then sharing with you a conversation with educator Colby Sharp about The Creativity Project! Two quick announcements. First, the March MG at Heart Book Club pick is The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street and the April book is The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. So adjust your TBR pile if you want to join us for those conversations later this spring.  And remember that #MGBookMarch is going strong this month, and I have been so inspired by all of your responses. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll jump into the conversation! How to Rock Your Read Aloud Last week, I had to be out of my classroom for three days for special ed meetings and various professional development training. And so I left some short picture books for the sub to read while I was away and the students foisted some of their favorites on them as well. And let me tell you - my students had OPINIONS about those experiences when I got back!  And it got me thinking - it is SO hard to grab a book you’ve never read and be open and vulnerable enough in front of an audience to read it aloud well. It takes some bravery to take those chances to give yourself over to the book. In case you were wondering, it was The Book With No Pictures - the incredible book that “tricks” the reader into saying silly things. So today I am going to share with you some ways that you can rock your read aloud with your students, your own kids, or any group of children. I’ll chat about what to do before, during, and at the end of your read aloud.  And I’ll read aloud some non-spoilery samples from one of my all-time favorite books - and the one whose sequel is released tomorrow - The Wild Robot. Before the read aloud. There are some things you can do to prepare ahead of time to make that read aloud really come to life.  Pick the right book! Some books just aren’t that great to read aloud. My daughters asked me to read aloud El Deafo a few years ago and it worked...okay… since they could sit on either side of me and see the illustrations, but I think a whole class read aloud of a whole graphic novel would be tough.  Books with short chapters are really great. Books that have tons of internal thinking or long sections of description can be tough though. Also, some of the classics have tricky sentence structure or difficult vocabulary. Or contain messages or stereotypes that we don’t want to perpetuate anymore. So - look to resources and people you trust for some good recommendations.   Listen to great examples If you want to improve, listen to other people read aloud to pick up their tricks. And listen to audio books. There are often samples you can listen to on Audible that will give you some ideas of voices to do. Or how to modulate your voice and tone and speed to match the story and the characters. We’ll chat more about that in a bit, but I have learned SO much from Jim Dale’s performance of Harry Potter. And Neil Gaiman’s readings of his novels, or most recently, the masterful performance of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Robin Miles. Listening to those examples, helped me realize that a good read aloud IS a performance.   Preview the book ahead of time. It really helps if you’ve at least read the chapter before so you don’t get lost in the sentences. And read it out loud - even if you’re just mouthing it to yourself. Three things to pay attention to: new characters you’ll have to voice, punctuation, and dialogue tags (the part of the sentence that says “she yelled”, or “he said angrily”). I am reading The Wild Robot with my class right now. I’ve read it before so I thought I was all good, but I didn’t skim Chapter 45 first so when we got reintroduced to the otters, I forgot that the first otter speaking was Shelly and so I read it in a low male voice - and so I backed up and reread it in a more female-coded voice. (I could have decided to just have our Shelly have a low voice - sometimes I think it’s good to adjust expectations a bit. But, I’d recommend just being intentional about it.)  Or sometimes the dialogue tag at the end will say, “he whispered.” and oops! I didn’t whisper that. Skimming the chapter ahead of time will help.   Review When continuing a read aloud of a chapter book, I have found that it’s helpful to do a quick recap of the last section.  In my class, we call this “Previously in The Wild Robot” and I’ll call on a few kids to refresh our memory of what happened and where we left off. And sometimes I’ll even reread the last paragraph or two just to pick back up the threads of the story to get that momentum back. I notice that my Audible app does this automatically - when I stop the book and restart, it goes back about 15 seconds - which is so helpful. During the read aloud As you are performing the story, there are three elements that when they are working well, you will have a memorable and awesome read aloud! Those three elements are your voice, your body language, and your audience. Let’s talk about your voice first because there’s a lot going on here. First of all, project your voice. And probably more than you think you have to. I don’t know about your space, but I am battling a TON of white noise in my classroom - the heater is blowing, the projector is whirring, the class across the hall is making some noise. So you have to cut through all that and angle your mouth further up than maybe you naturally would. When you are reading aloud a text, you want to try to find the music and rhythm in the language. It’s about how the cadence and inflection of your voice matches the tone of the scene and how the characters are feeling. If it’s something mysterious is happening, add that little question to your voice. If it’s a sad moment, then you’ll want to slow down and maybe read more carefully with that emotion coming through. For example, on page 58 of The Wild Robot, there is the part where Roz falls down the cliff: Expressing the right tone is about finding that rhythm, but it’s also about volume. If a character yells - you yell. And whisper those poignant lines so your class leans in to hear them. Use the dramatic slow down. Speed up when there’s energy or a chase or big climatic scene. And repeat important parts - look up at the kids. Give them a moment to digest and think. Those lines in the book that give you a deep message, that foreshadow something later, that are the heart of the story - repeat them! And maybe emphasize a different word the second time. Here’s an example from Chapter 37 of The Wild Robot where we first meet a new character - Chitchat the squirrel. SO in that section, based on the cues of the text - I made my voice bouncy when Chitchat bounces across the lawn and then fast and sort of nervous when she’s talking. Another hugely important aspect of using your voice to convey meaning is by what most kids call “doing the voices”. That’s often their biggest compliment to an adult who reads out loud to them - that they do the voices well.  And it takes some practice and some planning to figure out how to perform and almost embody those various characters. Something that has really helped me is to think about what actor or actress might be cast in that role and then try to “do” their voice.  In The Wild Robot, I modeled Roz on Alexa. The older goose, Loudwing, was Julia Sweeney for some reason. Here’s an example from Chapter 44, The Runaway: Now, YOU and the students might not hear those actors in my voice, but it helps me to keep the character’s voice straight and consistent throughout the book. And it gives me ideas of different ways that I could do different voices. Now let’s talk about your body language!  First of all, move around the room instead of just sitting in one spot. And try gesturing with the hand not holding the book.  If a character is described as doing an action, like pointing, I’ll point. If the author has the character cough or sneeze - do that! And let your facial expressions reflect the tone of the story and mood of the characters. If there’s anxiousness in the description, furrow your brow and curl into yourself.  If they are described as smiling, I’ll smile as I say that part. And you can hear that smile in your voice. The children look for visual cues to understand the text so add a little performance to it. A last way to really boost the engagement of your students or children during the read aloud is to get them involved in some way. Shorter picture books are easier to do this with because they can often see the words to say them. My class loves reading the colored words in books like She Persisted or You Don’t Want a Unicorn. But it’s a bit trickier when you are reading aloud a novel. But - there are some ways to do it.  One idea is to include your audience in some kind of small action. I remember when I was taking a graduate education class, my professor read us Seedfolks. And I vividly recall her gently placing imaginary seeds into the palms of each of our hands as she read. Just that small little thing brought us into the story, and I’ve never forgotten it.  (It also goes to show that you are never too old to enjoy a read aloud! And that you can get cool ideas by listening to experienced people read out loud.) In our class, one of the mentor texts we use a lot is Eleven by Sandra Cisneros. And there’s this part where the teacher dumps this nasty old red cottage-cheese-smelling sweater on the desk of one of her students. So, of course when I read it aloud, I mimic dropping that sweater on a student’s desk and then aim the teacher’s dialogue at that kid. Or one time I was reading a poem where one of the characters got their shoulder bumped by another person, so as I read that part and walked past a student I dipped down and (gently!) bumped their shoulder with mine.  Now, you have to know your kids well enough to know who would respond well to that. Adding those little actions can really get the audience more invested and involved in the story.   At the end of the read aloud At the end of the read aloud time, when you’ve got to stop. Always try to end on a cliffhanger - even if it’s the middle of a chapter. A lot of authors are really skilled at those chapter endings but you want to leave them wanting more! Begging to read just one more chapter! And sometimes - indulge them! Most importantly - enjoy yourself!  If you are having fun reading the story and you are getting into it - your kids will love it, too. There a hundred reasons why read alouds are so important. Of course it models fluency and introduces sophisticated vocabulary. I’ll just end by  mentioning that many accomplished readers talk so fondly about those early experiences being read to that sparked that passion for story in their lives. For me, that’s my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Simile, reading The Search for Delicious to us. I just fell head over heels for that story in a way that it became part of me. Read alouds create this shared experience that you and those children will have forever. And now - I would love to hear from you! I am always looking for ways to improve my read alouds, and I’m sure our listeners would love more ideas as well. And I am sure you have some awesome suggestions! You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or connect with me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.   Colby Sharp - Interview Outline Our guest this week is Colby Sharp! He is a teacher, one of the founders of the Nerdy Book Club site, a co-host of The Yarn podcast, organizer of NerdCamp Michigan, and now…. author of The Creativity Project!  A few weeks ago we sat down to chat about the book, what’s been inspiring him in his classroom, books he’s been reading, and so much more! Take a listen... The Creativity Project The Creativity Project will finally make its way into the world this March. How did this project get started? Logistically - how did the exchange of prompts work and how did you decide who received which prompt? Did you get to see them before they went out? Are there some responses that are really memorable to you? I love that The Creativity Project works not only as an anthology that you could just enjoy as a reader, but also as a spur to your own writing. It’s going to be a great resource for teachers! Have you used the prompts in your own classroom? What writing projects are you working on now? Your Teaching Life You recently switched grade levels - going from teaching 3rd grade to 5th grade. How has that been going for you? What have been some of your favorite, most memorable teaching moments with your students this year? What does reading look like in your class? Your Reading Life Something that I think about a lot is how sometimes it only takes ONE person to really influence a child’s reading life - either in a positive way or sometimes in a negative way. Was there someone in your life who impacted you as a reader? What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked? Links: Colby’s website - https://www.mrcolbysharp.com Colby on Twitter and Instagram Student Podcasts: Colby’s Students & Corrina’s Students Books & Authors We Chatted About: Hatchet (Gary Paulsen) Holes (Louis Sachar) Enticing Hard to Reach Writers (Ruth Ayres) The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle (Leslie Connor) Freak the Mighty (Rodman Philbrick) See You in the Cosmos (Jack Cheng)   Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Books Between is a proud member of the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well. Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!

Intro Hi and welcome to the Books Between Podcast! I believe in the power of stories to inspire us and to change our lives for the better. And I know that being a reader encourages us to be more empathetic and to be better citizens in our world.  And I want to help you connect kids with those amazing, life-changing stories and bring you inspiring (and fun!) conversations with the authors and educators who make that magic happen.  Every other Monday, I bring you book talks, interviews, and ideas for getting great books into the hands of kids between 8-12. I am Corrina Allen - a mom of two tween girls, a teacher to 23 fifth graders, and I’ve been planning a baby shower this week! My brother (who is also a teacher) and his wife (who is a librarian) are expecting their first this April. So - of course, I had to throw them a picture book themed baby shower. This is Episode #44 and today I’m sharing with you a conversation with author Jack Cheng about his debut middle grade novel (and the MG at Heart February Book Club pick) See You in the Cosmos! And then I’ll end with a Q&A. A few quick announcements. For those participating in the MG at Heart Books Club - the Twitter Chat to discuss See You in the Cosmos will be on Monday, March 6th at 8pm EST. Just follow the Hashtag #mgbookclub and I’ll see you there! Also, the March book is The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser. And the April book is The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. If you want to know the rest of the schedule along with other great middle great content, please head over to MGBookVillage.org - we have a book-release calendar and a great blog. One of my favorites from this past week is the post from Sayantani Dasgupta (author of The Serpent’s Secret) called “Nothing About Us Without Us: Writing #OwnVoices Fantasy in the Age of Black Panther”  - if you haven’t read it yet - it’s great. (And go see Black Panther - it was phenomenal!!) So - there’s lots going on at MGBookVillage. It’s where all the transcripts of this podcast can be found. And - Kathie and Jarrett and Annaliese and I have been cooking up something pretty awesome for March. So stayed tuned! Jack Cheng - Interview Outline Joining me this month to ask Jack Cheng questions is one of the founders of the MG at Heart Book Club - and an author herself , Cindy Baldwin. Her novel, Where the Watermelons Grow, is out this July. We got the chance to connect with Jack on Skype last week and here is our conversation... See You in the Cosmos CA: For our listeners who haven’t yet read the novel, can you tell us a bit about Alex’s journey in See You in the Cosmos? CA: The premise of this book is that the entire thing is recorded on Alex’s Golden iPod.  What were some aspects of writing the novel that were challenging because of that decision? CB: Did you ever consider writing it another way? CB: Alex is such a pitch-perfect balance of being really naive but also really precocious and shouldering a lot of adult responsibility. How did you strike that sweet spot in his voice between a kid who's shouldering adult responsibilities but also being really clueless? CB: How did you figure out how to assign time logs to the recorded entries? Did you read any of them aloud or was it all random guesswork?   CA: Where you a fan of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos?   JL: Yours is the second recently released kidlit book I’ve read in the past few months that features the Voyager Golden Record and spacecraft centrally. (The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole is the other one.)  Carl Sagan said that “the launching of this ‘bottle’ into the cosmic ‘ocean’ said something very hopeful about life on this planet. I’d love to know what YOU think it is about the Golden Record project, and the launching of it out into space, that so captures and ignites the imagination, and why it might be a powerful thing for young people in particular to learn about. CB: Have you ever built a rocket? And what kind of research did you do? Your Writing Life / See You on the Bookshelf Podcast CA: I just loved your podcast - See You on the Bookshelf - where you interview all the different people who helped make See You in the Cosmos as reality - from your agent and editor and copyeditor to the audio people. Why did you decide to create podcast to document the journey of your novel? CA: Did I hear that See You in the Cosmos was originally written as an adult book? If so - what changes did you make to angle your writing more toward middle grade? CB: You tackle some serious topics in this book. You touch on child neglect, mental illness, running away, infidelity… What made you decide to explore these issues in this book? Why do you think it's important to address difficult, mature topics like this in middle grade? CB: Do you feel like you'll continue to experiment with unusual formats in your work in the future? CA: What are you working on now? Your Reading Life CA: One of the goals of this podcast is to help educators and librarians inspire kids to read more and connect them with amazing books. Did you have a teacher or librarian in your life who helped you grow into a reader? CB: What role did reading have on your decision to be a writer? CA: What are you reading now? Thank You! Links: Jack’s website - https://jackcheng.com Jack on Twitter and Instagram Jack’s See You on the BookShelf Podcast Original Cosmos Series Information about the Voyager Golden Record Audio version of See You in the Cosmos Books & Authors We Chatted About: Pale Blue Dot (Carl Sagan) The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole (Michelle Cuevas) The Kid Who Only Hit Homers (Matt Christopher) Orphan Island (Laurel Snyder) Origin of Species (Charles Darwin) Q & A This week I’m going to end by addressing some questions and comments that I have been getting a lot over the last two weeks. In the wake of the most recent school shooting, at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14th - many many people have emailed and messaged me to express their anguish and to simply ask, “How is everyone doing?”  I know a lot you listening have been reaching out to me and to each other and hoping that maybe something’s different this time. Every time I record a show I start by saying that I am a mom and I am a teacher.  And living in this society that glorifies gun violence and seems to tolerate it against its most vulnerable, I want to tell you what that means. So as a mom, it means that my husband and I send our girls to school and we hope and feel lucky when they come home safely. As a mom, it means that your heart shreds a little more every time your child comes home and tells you where they hid during that day’s drill.  And as a mom, it means all too often I need to pull over to the side of the road on the way home from work to dry my tears at the latest news of yet another shooting of a child - in a school or in a neighborhood where all they’ve done wrong is wear a hooded sweatshirt. But as mom, you pull yourself together so you can listen to your children tell you about their day without dimming their smiles. And I am also a teacher living in a culture where we and our students have become prey. And I want to tell you what that means. It means that twice a year my students and I practice a lock down in case a shooter is in the school. They hide. Try to be quiet. And I shut the lights and hover near that locked door and plan how I might react if it wasn’t a drill. How could I use my body to shield theirs. Is there something nearby I can grab and use as a weapon? A stapler?  Should I have grabbed that screwdriver out of the science kit?   And I know it would never stop them. But it might just slow them down, a little. So that some could escape and there might be one less family to suffer that unimaginable grief of losing a child.   But being that shield would mean that my own children would be left without a mother.  And yet - all teachers I know do it willingly and gladly. Because we protect our kids - no matter what. That is the deal. And I know my own teachers would have done the same. I know my daughters’ teachers would do the same. They’d protect those lives with their own.  But our society has broken that promise of protection. And it is a heavy heavy burden placed on the shoulders of our children and our teachers. And it is too much. And I’ve even been asked - well, hey - what if you had a gun? Couldn’t you save more kids? First of all, a handgun is no match for assault weapon. And even a highly trained professional only averages an 18-25% accuracy rate in that kind of situation. When I think of where those other bullets might go in a school? For that reason and for a thousand more - NO! If you want to arm us, arm us with more counselors who serve students and not just sit in meetings about testing! It’s already too much. But in return for that heavy burden on our children and their teachers - the drills, the anxiety that comes with every news story and every false alarm (and there are so many more of them than you know) - we expect action to end this brutal, soul-crushing gun violence. Action from our representatives, but also action from YOU.  Please. Because our government WILL act. Once we are LOUD enough. And make them feel uncomfortable enough. And it’s really no surprise to me that the generation who grew up reading about Malala are at the forefront of this. They cut their teeth on the stories of brave young activists. They have finally gotten some momentum, so let’s help them.  I’ve called my representatives three times a week, and I’m going to the March for Our Lives on March 24th. So I am begging you - please if you live in the US. - please help. Call the people who claim to represent you and I’ll see you at the march.

Intro Hi there everyone! Welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two, a teacher of 23, and always amazed at how much I learn from my students. Sometimes it’s something profound, or like last week it’s a snack suggestion! So a shout out to Jadyn and Malia for helping my daughters and I get completely addicted to these things called Flip yogurts. Have you tried them? They are these little flavored yogurts with a side sprinkle of sweetness. I have purchased an embarrassingly large amount of these in the past week - enough so that the Wegman’s cashier is giving me the side eye. You have to try them - delicious! This is Episode #42 and Today I’m sharing with you a great opportunity to participate in the MG @ Heart Book Club, a fantastic interview with author Elly Swartz about her upcoming novel Smart Cookie, and then I’ll share with you some news about the All the Wonders website. MG @ Heart Book Club The first thing that I am really excited to tell you about is that I am teaming up with the Middle Grade at Heart Book Club to bring you great discussions and interviews with the authors of each month’s selection. So you can read along with us all and at the end of the month or sometimes early the following month, MG at Heart will host a Twitter chat to discuss the book together and I’ll host an episode of Books Between featuring that novel. First, let me tell you about all of the awesome 2018 picks so you can plan out your reading and pre-order the ones you want to get. There are lots of debut authors on this list so I’m excited for us all to meet some new voices in world of middle grade literature. (And remember that links to all of the books mentioned are in the show notes and the transcript posted on allthewonders.com so you don’t have to scramble to write anything down.) After I list the reading schedule, then I’ll let you know where you can go to get more information about the MG at Heart Book Club. In January, we are reading Love, Sugar, Magic by debut author Anna Meriano. It is about an 11 year-old girl, named Leonora, in a tight-knit family where all the women are brujas - witches. Leonora soon discovers that she - like her sisters and mother - have magical abilities that manifest through their baking. I’m about halfway through this book right now and I love the family, and magic, and food, and culture. It’s like a mix of the movie Coco and one of my favorite novels, Chocolat. I just know you and your kids will love it!  So, I hope you can join us all for the Twitter chat about Love, Sugar, Magic on Tuesday, February 6th at 8pm EST using the hashtag #mgbookclub. And February’s read is See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng! Oh my gosh - I just finished the audio version of this novel and I was blown away. Really - you HAVE to read this one!  Or better yet since the premise of the entire book is that it’s recorded on an ipod - get the audio performance! You’ll just fall in love with Alex and his dog, Carl Sagan.  So - stay tuned for the Twitter chat date for that book! In March, we’ll be reading The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser. This one has been on my TBR pile for ages so I’m glad to have a reason to push it to the top of my pile and get ready for the sequel which, I think, is due out this fall. April’s book is Varian Johnson’s The Parker Inheritance - which sounds like a fabulous historical mystery. Can’t wait to read that one - it looks amazing! In May, we’ll be reading Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison - a contemporary novel in half prose, half verse. June’s selection is The Mad Wolf’s Daughter by Diane Magras - a Scottish medieval adventure that sounds a bit like The Ranger’s Apprentice with a twist of Tamora Pierce. Doesn’t that sounds amazing? In July, we’ll be reading Just Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno about a family struggling to find a lasting home. August’s pick is Cindy Baldwin’s Where the Watermelons Grow -  a book about twelve-year-old Della Kelly of Maryville, North Carolina, who tries to come to terms with her mother's mental illness while her father struggles to save the farm from a record-breaking drought. And in September, we are reading The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio. This one is about a girl who longs to create a space of her own away from the small room she shares with her mother in their grandmother’s house that is home to her lovable but sometimes wild Filipino family. So - she decides to built her own ‘tiny house.” October’s pick is The Three Rules of Everyday Magic by Amanda Rawson Hill. Listen to this description: “Magic doesn't work the way you think it will, but it's what Kate needs as she confronts friendship trouble, her parents' divorce, and Grammy's dementia in this lyrical middle-grade coming-of-age novel.” And November’s pick is The Hotel Between by Sean Easley -a story where twins Cam and Cass uncover the secrets of their missing father in a magical hotel whose doors lead its guests to places all over the world. And stay tuned for the December plans! So - I hope you are just excited as I am to read some outstanding new middle grade books this year. So - go get your pre-orders in, adjust those TBR piles, and I’ll see on Twitter and in your podcast feed. If you want to know more about the Middle Grade at Heart Book Club, check them out on Twitter at the handle @mgatheart. And you can find them online at mgbookvillage.org. And a big shout out to the creators of MG at Heart  - Julie Artz, Cindy Baldwin, Laurie Morrison, Amanda Rawson Hill, and Kit Rosewater. Main Topic - A Conversation with Elly Swartz This week I am so excited to welcome Elly Swartz to the show - author of Finding Perfect and her upcoming middle grade novel, Smart Cookie.  We chat about her new novel and the unconventional research she did to get the details right along with schools visits, her writing process, and what she’s been reading lately. Take a listen…..   Interview Outline: Smart Cookie Your new middle grade novel, Smart Cookie, is released in just a few days - can you tell us a bit about it? We all loved the Greene Family Bed & Breakfast - Angie wants to know - did you model it after a real place or a real situation? We all loved the game inspired rooms - Yahtzee and Monopoly and Checkers and Chess!  My daughters and I had so much fun deciding which ones we’d want to stay in.  So, we all want to know - which game-themed room would you prefer to stay in? And Lena wants to know - why did you decide to call the book Smart Cookie? I really loved the relationship between Frankie and her grandmother. I also grew up with an energetic, card-playing grandmother who lived with me, so I really connected with the bond between Frankie and her Gram….   Were you close to your grandparents? One of the parts of this book that had us laughing out loud (and cringing!) - were all the women that Frankie secretly sets her dad up with from the dating site! Did you do research on dating sites? I’ve been seeing a lot of pictures of your school visits lately! What are some of the things you like about visiting with students?   Your Writing Life What is your writing process like? I saw that you studied psychology and law - do you think anything from your time studying those subjects has helped you become a better writer or made its way into your novels? What are you working on now?   Your Reading Life Something that I think about a lot is the impact that adults can have on a child’s development as a reader - either in a really positive, encouraging way or sometimes in a negative way... Was there someone like that in your life who impacted you as a reader? What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked? Links: Elly’s Website - http://ellyswartz.com Smart Cookie Curriculum Guide Elly on Twitter and Instagram Books & Authors We Chatted About: Ramona the Brave (Beverly Cleary) Eloise (Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight) Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren) Radio Free Vermont (Bill McKibben) Love (Matt De La Pena and Loren Long) Everything I Know About You (Barbara Dee) The 57 Bus (Dashka Slater) Turtles All the Way Down (John Green) Some news Before we wrap up, I wanted to share with you some news. As you may have heard, Matthew Winner and Blake Hamilton (co-founders of the All the Wonders website) have decided to end the project due to some other demands on their time and energy. However, all the podcasts happily - including Books Between - will still continue. Nick Patton’s Picturebooking podcast will be found on picturebooking.com. And the All the Wonders podcast will now be called The Children’s Book Podcast with Matthew Winner and will have a home at matthewcwinner.com.   And for me, this episode will be the last one at www.AlltheWonders.com. All the previous episodes of Books Between and the transcripts will still be there. And, as always, you’ll still be able to find links to every single episode at booksbetween.com.  On the next episode, I’ll have an announcement with some further details about our new home. For now, I just want to say how happy I am to have been part of the All the Wonders team. And how grateful I’ve felt for their warm welcome into that incredible family. I want to give a special thanks to Matthew Winner who within the first week of this podcast, has always been such an enthusiastic champion of the show and incredibly generous with his time, resources, and advice. And Matthew, and Blake, and everyone else at the All the Wonders team have made this show so much better than it would have been on its own. And as much as there is a twinge of disappointment at seeing the end of something so wonderful, instead of feeling like it’s a sad goodbye, I look at it like an evolution of how we all connect and collaborate. And I am really excited to see what Blake and Matthew have in store next!  Because you all know that the forces behind the awesomeness that was All the Wonders are going to be up to something brilliant! Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get a full transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher. Or even better - tell a friend about us! Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!

"I stopped reading books that had humans in them after Harriet [the Spy] because I knew there wouldn't be any humans like me," — Sarah Moon, author of Sparrow.  At Scholastic, we're proud to publish authors of differend backgrounds, cultures, races, abilities, and orientations. But we also know that many of our authors have felt the same way Sarah did as a child. Like her, many felt that they didn't exist in children's books when they were growing up. And like her, many are now writing to change that for future generations. We invited them to share their stories and to talk about why representation in children's books is so crucial. These stories will break your heart, but they will also give you hope: hope that today's children will never doubt that they can be the heroes of their own stories.  Contributing authors: Daniel José Older, author of the Shadowshaper series Wendy Wan-Long Shang, co-author of This is Just a Test Billy Merrell, author of Vanilla Kody Keplinger, author of Run Lamar Giles, author of Overturned Sarah Moon, author of Sparrow Goldy Moldovsky, author of No Good Deed Varian Johnson, author of To Catch a Cheat Angela Cervantes, author of Allie, First at Last Bill Konigsberg, author of Honestly Ben Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

"I stopped reading books that had humans in them after Harriet [the Spy] because I knew there wouldn't be any humans like me," — Sarah Moon, author of Sparrow.  At Scholastic, we're proud to publish authors of different backgrounds, cultures, races, abilities, and orientations. But we also know that many of our authors have felt the same way Sarah did as a child. Like her, many felt that they didn't exist in children's books when they were growing up. And like her, many are now writing to change that for future generations. We invited them to share their stories and to talk about why representation in children's books is so crucial. These stories will break your heart, but they will also give you hope: hope that today's children will never doubt that they can be the heroes of their own stories.  Contributing authors: Daniel José Older, author of the Shadowshaper series Wendy Wan-Long Shang, author of books like This is Just a Test and The Way Home Looks Now Billy Merrell, author of Vanilla Kody Keplinger, author of Run Lamar Giles, author of Overturned Sarah Moon, author of Sparrow Goldy Moldovsky, author of No Good Deed Varian Johnson, author of To Catch a Cheat Angela Cervantes, author of Allie, First at Last Bill Konigsberg, author of Honestly Ben Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

The poet Lucille Clifton wrote, "The literature of America should reflect the children of America." We couldn't agree more. In this panel conversation, four accomplished writers (Michael Hurd, Varian Johnson, Doyin Oyeniyi, and Jennifer M. Wilks) will discuss why it’s important for readers to seek out diverse books; what can be done to support writers of color (published and just starting out); the ways that writers, publishers, and literary organizations can support diversity in our literature, our programs, and our communities; and the crucial role that black literature plays in shaping the important conversation on race in our country today. For this August 18 Third Thursday program, the Writers' League partnered with literary organizations and entities across Austin (including ACC's Creative Writing Department, Austin Bat Cave, Austin Public Library Friends Foundation, Austin SCBWI, Free Minds, Huston Tillotson University, Kirkus Reviews, the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, and the Texas Book Festival) to bring this panel discussion to as a wide an audience as possible and to give away books to those in attendance.

In this episode, Arthur A. Levine, Vice President and Publisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, joins us to talk about the authors, topics, and books that he has championed throughout his career. Authors Francisco Stork (Marcelo in the Real World, The Memory of Light) and Mike Jung (Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, Unidentified Suburban Object) will also join us to talk about their new work.  Guests:  Arthur A. Levine is Vice President and Publisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Throughout his career, Levine has edited and championed an exceptional and diverse group of writers and artists, including Emma Donoghue, J.K. Rowling, Lisa Yee, Jaclyn Moriarty, Shaun Tan, Sundee Frazier, and Dan Santat. The imprint publishes Varian Johnson, Francisco Stork, Eric Gansworth, Sarwat Chadda, and many others. Arthur is also a leading publisher of books-in-translation, introducing American children to such writers as Daniella Carmi (Israel), Josef Holub and Wolfgang Herrndorf (Germany), Luis Sepulveda (Chile), Laura Gallego Garcia (Spain), Silvana Gandolfi (Italy), Nahoko Uehashi and Komako Sakai (Japan), Sylvie Weil (France), Guus Kuijer, Karlijn Stoffels, and Marcel Prins (The Netherlands), and Anne Provoost (Belgium). Arthur A. Levine Books is also recognized for having brought out the first contemporary YA novel translated from the Russian, Playing a Part, an LGBT coming-of age-story by Daria Wilke. Follow @AALBooks on Twitter. Francisco X. Stork is the author of the acclaimed Marcelo in the Real World which received five starred reviews and won the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, which was named a New York Times Editors' Choice selection; and Irises. His most recent young adult novel, The Memory of Light, was recently published and has already received four starred reviews. Francisco was born in Monterrey, Mexico, spent his teenage years in El Paso, Texas, and now lives outside Boston, Massachusetts, with his family. Mike Jung is the author of Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities and Unidentified Suburban Object. He has contributed to the anthologies Dear Teen Me, Break These Rules, and 59 Reasons to Write. Mike is a library professional by day, a writer by night, and a semi-competent ukulele player during all the times in between. He is proud to be a founding member of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks team. Mike lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and two young children. Find Mike at www.mikejung.com. Additional resources: Learn more about Arthur A. Levine Books here. Learn more about We Need Diverse Books here. Read an excerpt of The Memory of Light. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Megan Kaesshaefer

In this episode, Arthur A. Levine, Vice President and Publisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, joins us to talk about the authors, topics, and books that he has championed throughout his career. Authors Francisco Stork (Marcelo in the Real World, The Memory of Light) and Mike Jung (Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, Unidentified Suburban Object) will also join us to talk about their new work.  Guests:  Arthur A. Levine is Vice President and Publisher of Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Throughout his career, Levine has edited and championed an exceptional and diverse group of writers and artists, including Emma Donoghue, J.K. Rowling, Lisa Yee, Jaclyn Moriarty, Shaun Tan, Sundee Frazier, and Dan Santat. The imprint publishes Varian Johnson, Francisco Stork, Eric Gansworth, Sarwat Chadda, and many others. Arthur is also a leading publisher of books-in-translation, introducing American children to such writers as Daniella Carmi (Israel), Josef Holub and Wolfgang Herrndorf (Germany), Luis Sepulveda (Chile), Laura Gallego Garcia (Spain), Silvana Gandolfi (Italy), Nahoko Uehashi and Komako Sakai (Japan), Sylvie Weil (France), Guus Kuijer, Karlijn Stoffels, and Marcel Prins (The Netherlands), and Anne Provoost (Belgium). Arthur A. Levine Books is also recognized for having brought out the first contemporary YA novel translated from the Russian, Playing a Part, an LGBT coming-of age-story by Daria Wilke. Follow @AALBooks on Twitter. Francisco X. Stork is the author of the acclaimed Marcelo in the Real World which received five starred reviews and won the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, which was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection; and Irises. His most recent young adult novel, The Memory of Light, was recently published and has already received four starred reviews. Francisco was born in Monterrey, Mexico, spent his teenage years in El Paso, Texas, and now lives outside Boston, Massachusetts, with his family. Mike Jung is the author of Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities and Unidentified Suburban Object. He has contributed to the anthologies Dear Teen Me, Break These Rules, and 59 Reasons to Write. Mike is a library professional by day, a writer by night, and a semi-competent ukulele player during all the times in between. He is proud to be a founding member of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks team. Mike lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and two young children. Find Mike at www.mikejung.com. Additional resources: Learn more about Arthur A. Levine Books here. Learn more about We Need Diverse Books here. Read an excerpt of The Memory of Light. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Megan Kaesshaefer

It has been said that all fiction is autobiographical to a degree. Writers can't help but filter everything through their own experiences and beliefs, so even the most outlandish stories are shaped by their own lives. But how can a writer borrow overtly from their past -- or someone else's? How does the writing process change when a elements in a narrative are clearly torn from real life? How do writers disguise them as fiction? How do they decide what facts to keep and what to change? How can they protect the "innocent" -- or should they? How does writing about past events and relationships affect our understanding of them? And do writers sometimes use real life people and events without realizing it? At our February 18, 2016, Third Thursday, moderator Jennifer Ziegler spoke with authors Charlotte Gullick, Varian Johnson, Ruth Pennebaker, and Mary Helen Specht on these issues and more.

    Varian Johnson and I go back to the era of listservs, LiveJournal, and Nokia flip phones. He’s the author of four novels for young readers–most recently The Great Greene Heist–and one on the way. In this conversation we talk about Varian’s ten years as a published author and how he has weathered the disappointments [&hellip

We discuss and review “The Great Greene Heist” by Varian Johnson.

Jane travels to the world of LeakyCon and experiences hears some interesting points from some brilliant authors. Authors: Rainbow Rowell, Lev Grossman, Gayle Forman, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Varian Johnson, Miranda Lo, Laurie Halse Anderson, Amber Benson, Stephanie Perkins. For more information go to dibtbpodcast.blogspot.com